WEST Hull coach Mark Hewitt is expecting his side to roll their sleeves up if they are to avoid a second successive derby defeat against lower placed opposition.
After succumbing to Skirlaugh last week in a 24-18 loss, Hull Dockers are the visitors to Wests tomorrow afternoon in a massive clash for both sides at opposite ends of the Conference Premier table.
Dockers are looking to do the double over Wests following their 22-16 victory in April, and Hewitt is keen to see his side rediscover their form of earlier in the season.
"We need to start rolling our sleeves up and getting in the arm-wrestle, and at the minute we're just looking like we're trying to get out of trouble," he told the Mail.
"It was a very touching afternoon at Skirlaugh with Lee Newton's fundraising, but in rugby terms, I didn't think we did enough or we were good enough to win.
"I'm taking nothing away from Skirlaugh, they played a lot better than us, but our game management was nowhere to be seen.
"Rediscovering our form from a month ago is now the key. We need to be a lot smarter in both attack and defence this week.
"Back in April, our indiscipline and unforced errors cost us the game against Dockers. They play in a very similar vein to Skirlaugh in that they have a massive pack and some talented halves."
Wests suffered their second defeat in three weeks following a 28-10 loss to Leigh Miners Rangers last month.
Acknowledging his side's amount of games they have played, Hewitt doesn't want to place much pressure on his defending champions.
But he is expecting the players' honest approach in training to be shown on the field in order to keep the pressure on the top two sides – Castleford Lock Lane and Siddal.
"Every team is going to experience blips in their season, and we've had a good run up to now in the league and the cup," added Hewitt.
"What we can't afford is to fall away from the top places at this late stage. The lads are an honest bunch and we trained very well in midweek.
"Some have put their hands up and said they didn't play well, and they have been tasked to rectify that.
"I'm fully confident they will show a response."
Lee Roberts and Sam Cator will be available for Wests this week, as Hewitt hints at making changes to the side following the shock defeat.
Chris Kay: Dockers must guard against Wests backlashHull Dockers coach Chris Kay says his side have to be prepared to face a West Hull backlash following their surprise defeat to Skirlaugh last week.
Whilst Dockers had a welcome week off from action, Wests' top-spot bid took another twist as the Bulls produced one of the shocks of the season with a 24-18 win.
Victorious over Mark Hewitt's men in April, Dockers are aiming to do the double over the current champions.
But Kay wants his side to utilise their break to re-focus their need to avoid relegation to Division One.
"It was a break that we needed to re-focus the lads as we have seven games to go over the next two months or so," he told the Mail.
"The battle for relegation is firmly in our hands now, and results probably didn't go our way last week, especially with Skirlaugh winning.
"Every week is different in this league. We played very well at our place earlier this season against them and our enthusiasm on that day won the game for us.
"Skirlaugh's win over West Hull last week was probably the worst thing to happen to us.
"I think they'll come out fighting this week knowing they cannot take any team lightly in this division.
"It's been a tough few weeks for the boys but the results haven't dented their moods.
"The forward pack has to be on top this week to allow our halves to create an opening. The likes of Aaron Bradley and Chris Lyth must lay the platform early on for us."
Kay may hand debuts to back-rower Liam Reed and centre Ben Crane, with a host of players missing for his side.
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