MARK O'Meley believes other teams would have struggled to be top-four contenders with the key injuries Hull FC have had this season.

And with half-back duo Sean Long and Richard Horne now back, the Aussie has warned Hull will only get stronger ahead of the play-offs.

Horne and Long are set to play together for the first time in five months in the top-four shoot-out at home to Leeds on Saturday.

Providing Hull with a timely boost, O'Meley says his side have already grown in confidence since they returned to training.

"We have done pretty well for a team without their regular halves," said O'Meley, who is expecting a continued improvement in Hull's form. "I don't think many sides would have got as far as we have with so many injuries.

"I'm not getting cocky or over-confident, but we will only get stronger now we have our key players back.

"When Longy turned up for training again, it was massive for us and it was the same when Horney came in on Monday.

"We are getting more confident, the players are getting more touches of the ball, we're getting our combinations back and it will flow into better football."