LEE Radford has described Hull FC's pre-season schedule as ideal after the club today announced four friendly fixtures for 2014. The Black and Whites will play just once at the KC Stadium, against derby rivals Hull KR, with three trial games on the road, including Richard Whiting's testimonial match at Featherstone.
Radford's first game in charge will be against his former East Hull coaching partner Paul Cooke, as Hull head to dual-registration partners Doncaster on January 12, with his first test against Super League opposition a week later against his former side, Bradford Bulls.
After the derby at the KC on January 26, Hull will end their Super League preparations with a trip to Featherstone on February 2, with a two-week break before they open their league campaign against Catalan.
"Playing four games in pre-season is ideal for me and it's just the right number," Radford told the Mail.
"It's a longer pre-season because of the World Cup and you don't want to be not ready by only playing a couple of games, so four was perfect.
"What's great is all four will be competitive teams. The derby is always competitive, Bradford will provide a strong test and in Featherstone and Doncaster we've got two Championship teams that are very strong.
"What playing four games does is allow me to use my full squad throughout the friendlies and we can give everyone a chance to impress.
"The boys are already looking forward to playing some games and it's a long wait for them.
"We'll start playing some opposed games and utilise the size of the squad and the under-19s lads to play some competitive games between ourselves at training so we can put into practice what we've been working on ahead of the trial matches."
