Discarded trio feared most by Hull coach Agar

The Airlie Birds head to Wrexham aiming to continue their 100 per cent start to the Engage Super League season.

But the new-look Crusaders picked up their first win with a victory at Salford City Reds last week and, holding three ex-Hull stars in their ranks, will be keen to start making strides themselves.

Gareth Raynor, Jamie Thackray and Tommy Lee were all discarded by Agar as he made the necessary changes to his squad for 2010 and, having since linked up with the Welsh club, he expects them each to try and prove him wrong tomorrow.

"It's only natural to want to do well when you come up against your old club," he said.

"They only left us at the end of last season so they'll be looking to put a strong show on.

"When you look down the Crusaders team sheet, a couple of guys they got from us are probably the names that stand out.

"They immediately jump out at you and they will be highly motivated. A couple have played international football and have plenty of football left in them."

Ex-Great Britain winger Raynor has scored in two of his three games since the switch, prop Thackray joining him on the scoresheet in the 36-16 win at Salford, while hooker Lee hopes to return from an injury that kept him out last week.

Under Brian Noble, Crusaders look better prepared to compete than the strugglers that finished bottom last season.

Although they lost heavily at Wigan, they ran champions Leeds Rhinos close for an hour on their first appearance at the Racecourse Ground.

"They're a different side from last year – different ground, name, players, coaches, kit, different everything," said Agar.

"But they'll be pretty pleased with two of their three performances.

"They'll have had a good week on the back of a pretty convincing win and as the weeks go by they're a team I see consistently improving."

Hull are without goal-kicking second-rower Danny Tickle due to a groin strain meaning Mike Burnett gets his first chance of the season.

Agar has monitored his influential half-backs Richard Horne and Sean Long closely during the week after suffering knocks versus Huddersfield but both are expected to start.

Huddersfield, meanwhile, make an immediate return to Hull after their narrow 14-6 loss at the KC but this time head to Craven Park to take on Hull KR.

The Giants hope to have captain Brett Hodgson returning from a back injury, his creative edge sorely missed last week, while Rovers, who fell badly at Wigan, are forced into a switch due to full-back Shaun Briscoe's knee injury.

Ben Cockayne reverts to full-back with Mike Ratu set for his Rovers debut in the centre.

Coach Justin Morgan is also likely to be bolstered by the return of second-rower Ben Galea in his first appearance of the season after injury.