Hull FC v Warrington Wolves: John Cartwright brushes off pressure talk ahead of pivotal night

The Airlie Birds sit one point adrift of Wakefield Trinity, knowing a loss at home to Warrington Wolves could end their top-six hopes.

However, a win coupled with a defeat for Trinity against Hull KR in a game that kicks off at the same time would see Hull end the penultimate round with a firm grip on sixth spot.

Rather than worry about the permutations, Cartwright is embracing the challenge.

"I don't feel any pressure, to be honest with you," said the Hull boss.

"This is why you do it and why you play. Yeah, we'd love to be first and sitting on top of the ladder, but we're not.

"We're fighting and if you don't enjoy it, you won't find success. If the opposition sees you're a bit scared, that's not a good message to send.

"I'm truly loving every minute of it and the fact we've got two games to go and we're still alive and we're still confident we can win them. If that's good enough to make the six, so be it; if it's not, we'll move into next year with a level of confidence that probably wasn't there 12 months ago.

"I'm looking forward to this weekend and if we get a result, we're still alive."

Hull's cause has not been helped by an untimely selection crisis, in part stemming from their own ill-discipline.

Jordan Rapana, Amir Bourouh, Yusuf Aydin and Jack Ashworth all picked up bans following last week's ill-tempered derby defeat to Hull KR, joining the likes of Herman Ese'ese, John Asiata and Will Pryce on a lengthy list of absentees.

Cartwright has had to dig deep into his squad but his focus is firmly on who is available for a must-win game.

"We're really comfortable with the team we've got to take on Warrington this week," he said.

"There's a great mix of youth and experience and guys who want to prove themselves. That's what this week is all about.

"We're not too worried now about what they're going to be doing in two, three or four years' time – everything is about beating Warrington this week.

"We're not putting too much pressure on the team. We've just got to bring what was good last week and improve where we think we need to improve.

"You get certain things right in this game and you just win. We know the importance of this week – it is make or break with two games to go."

Hull host a Warrington outfit whose season has come off the rails in dramatic fashion.

Sam Burgess' side have won just one of their last seven games, losing to the likes of Huddersfield Giants and Salford Red Devils in recent weeks to drop out of play-off contention.

Like Hull, the Wolves are beset by injury and suspension issues, yet Burgess is still able to call upon talent such as Hull legend Marc Sneyd.

Cartwright, however, is not getting distracted by talk of Warrington's woes.

"It's not something we lose any sleep over," he added.

"I don't know how they're going to turn up. If you start taking the focus off your own team then you're missing things.

"We've got to be prepared for the best of Warrington. We have to be prepared for that and improve on last week. We'll see where that takes us."