But he admitted that recent form will count for nothing when his side take on Wakefield Trinity Wildcats in tomorrow's second Carnegie Challenge Cup semi-final.

Back-to-back engage Super League wins, over Wakefield and Hull KR, will send Hull into the big game, at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, in good heart.

Said Agar: "We've got a bit of competition for places, everybody's on the training park and they've got a spring in their step.

"We are looking forward to it, but we know it's very much a one-off game and the formbook goes out the window.

"Our form has improved greatly when we've got a few bodies back on the training park.

"We've got a few wins under our belt and training has been good, but we aren't reading too much into their form or ours.

"We feel this occasion is very much about who performs on the day.

"It all boils down to the 17 blokes who step over the white line."

Agar – who was current Wakefield coach John Kear's assistant when Hull won the Challenge Cup in 2005 – said Wildcats "won't be happy" with their recent form, but he added: "They are a bit like ourselves.

"Our form hasn't been great over the year, but you always see these occasions as a chance for redemption.

"John is a past-master of picking teams up and getting them up for one-off games.

"I know he will be working hard to do that and we are expecting an on-form Wakefield side. We are expecting them to play to their capabilities.

"It will be a terrific occasion, it's a nice stadium and it is going to be packed out.

"The prize is enormous for both teams and it's two teams that will see it as a big chance this year."

Agar will select from one of his strongest squads of the season.

Winger Garreth Raynor, centre Todd Byrne, scrum-half Adam Dykes and prop Garreth Carvell are all included in Hull's 19-man squad.

Scott Wheeldon and Jodie Broughton – who is on loan from Leeds – drop out from the 17 on duty in last weekend's derby win over Hull KR.