Hull FC v Catalans Dragons - Airlie Birds aim to make KCOM experience an unpleasant one for rivals

The Black and Whites play their first Super League home game of the new season with almost 13,000 tickets sold for the match against the French visitors.

Obviously, Catalans do not ordinarily bring a large sizeable travelling support, so the majority of that crowd will be locals.

Indeed, the East Yorkshire club confirmed last nght it will break its attendance record for this fixture which dates back to 2007 when 12,673 watched the contest.

But, given the hostile atmosphere all sides traditionally receive at Catalans’ Stade Gilbert Brutus ground in Perpignan, Radford is most looking forward to the KCOM Stadium serving as an extra man for his Challenge Cup winners.

“I think they (the club) have gone all out in terms of promotion, giving away as many free tickets as they can and for us it’s really important we get off to a good start at home,” he told The Yorkshire Post, having started their campaign with a 12-8 win at Wakefield Trinity almost a fortnight ago.

“One advantage Catalans have is obviously the intimidating support they have when you do go there.

“There’s the moans and groans when they don’t get that penalty and the moans and groans every time it goes to a video ref decision.

“I think that works to their advantage.

“But, hopefully, for us we can now make this as intimidating as a place as possible and as bouncy as we can for our boys come Thursday.”

Hull are forced into one change from the side that won in filthy conditions at Belle Vue before the weekend off for World Club Series action.

Scrum-half Albert Kelly serves a one-game suspension so Jake Connor, who scored the match-winning try when coming on at full-back for his debut at Wakefield, slots in alongside Marc Sneyd at half-back.

Such versatility – he can also play centre and wing – is one of the reasons Radford signed the 22-year-old from Huddersfield Giants for 2017

“That’s true, for sure,” said the coach.

“Leading up to the this game, too, he’s looked the part in training so I’m really looking forward to him putting in a performance that helps us get a result.

“He’s a quality English half still with plenty of improvement in his game as well.”

There will be a familiar face in the Catalans ranks given they field Sam Moa, the robust Samoa prop who played alongside Radford during a four-year stint at Hull before leaving for Sydney Roosters in 2013.

Moa won the NRL Grand Final with Roosters that year and made nearly 100 appearances for them before returning to Super League ahead of this campaign.

Radford said: “He’s obviously gone on to fantastic achievements when he left the club and it was no surprise.

“As a professional, he’s a fantastic bloke and a fantastic bloke to have around the club as well. That’s one thing watching Catalans over the last two performances – they are very willing to work for one another and that’s what Sam brings in abundance.”

Catalans started their own season with an impressive win over Warrington Wolves.

Aside from Moa, they have also made a significant signing in the shape of former New South Wales State of Origin and Kangaroos star Greg Bird while Luke Walsh, the Australian stand-off, has arrived from St Helens.

Catalans started on fire last season before falling away and, on their prospects in 2017, Hull captain Gareth Ellis added: “It’s a bit of the unknown.

“They’ve done it in the past (recruited big) and it’s not quite worked out for them.

“They’ve shown promise and then faded at the end.

“I think they have a better balance about them this time around and, from their point of view, they’ll be hoping they have learnt from their mistakes.

“A lot of clubs have done it; I think we’ve been guilty of it in the past. You have to get your recruitment spot on and build your culture and that will go a long way.

“I’m sure Catalans will be hoping this year is their year but we’re really looking forward to building on what we did last time around.