Coach Peter Sharp’s hopes of resting a couple of his influential players this weekend have been dashed by the clubs injury problems, which continue to rule nine players out.

As Hull prepares to open their Challenge Cup account against National League One Rochdale Hornets at Spotland on Sunday (3pm), Sharp revealed: “It would have been nice to have rested a couple of players but we can’t.

“The bottom line is we only just have enough players to pick a squad from so any plans to rest anyone have gone completely out of the window.”

Under no circumstances is Sharp underestimating the Hornets in Sunday’s fourth round tie, but he added: “We will give Rochdale ultimate respect that’s for sure but under normal circumstances we could have given a couple of players a much needed rest.

“Unfortunately this season we don’t know what normal circumstances are because we haven’t had that luxury.

“As things stand we just have enough players to make a squad up and that includes bringing in young Tom Briscoe who as we all know is still at school.”