Peter Gentle: Hull FC have a plan to handle dangerous old boy Willie Manu

HULL FC coach Peter Gentle is confident his side can do a 'damage limitation' job on former star Willie Manu tomorrow.

Manu left the Black and Whites to join St Helens at the end of last season, despite being offered an improved deal.

Tomorrow's clash will see both Manu and centre Jordan Turner come up against their former team-mates for the first time.

And Gentle admits Manu in particular has been the subject of discussions in the FC camp this week.

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"Willie is a champion and a very strong player, we all know that," Gentle said.

"The boys have played with him for the last few years, Richard Horne in particular played outside him for five years.

"We have had a good chat about him and we have a fair idea of how to shut him down. The question is whether you can shut him down totally. You have to try and limit his impact with damage control on him.

"We know what he brings to the game, but we can't go out there and just worry about Willie.

"In terms of the other side of the field we have a good idea of what's going on there also, so I don't think there will be any surprises from Willie or Jordan.

St Helens have not started their season in great style, suffering a shock 40-4 home loss to Huddersfield, before grinding out a hard-fought 16-4 success at Widnes last weekend.

Gentle admits both sides enter the contest in 'scratchy', form, but says Saints have to be judged on their undoubted quality.

"They will improve each week as we are, so I think it will be a very good game," he said.

"Their defensive patterns aren't quite nailed on just yet and their attack is misfiring to a certain degree, but they are a very good squad and they'll be up there at the end of the season."