Prop Matt Lodge is getting close to making his first start for Leeds Rhinos, coach Brad Arthur says.

The Australian joined Rhinos from North Queensland Cowboys last month on a contract until the end of this season and is in talks with the club about a possible deal for next year. His three appearances so far have all been as a substitute and, speaking ahead of tonight’s (Friday) home game against Hull FC, Arthur said: “He’s starting to get the hang of it, getting more minutes.

“We might look to push him into the starting line up because that’s obviously what his strength is - starting games. He is a big body and hard to handle, but we want to make sure he has got the hang of Super League and got used to the game and the flow of it.

Zak Lloyd is fit, but won't play for Leeds Rhinos against Hull FC tonight. Picture by Matthew Merrick/SWpix.com.

“He hadn’t had a heap of minutes in his last month leaving Australia. We’ve been managing to get 30-35 minutes into him each week just to get him ready to maybe have a look at a start.”

Arthur confirmed winger Maika Sivo (broken arm) and forward Keenan Palasia (foot) will return from long-term injury against Hull, but teenage back-rower Zak Lloyd won’t play. Lloyd took a bang to the ribs in last week’s defeat by Wigan after being called on to the bench at short notice when James McDonnell withdrew.

“He is okay,” Arthur said. “He’s in the 19, but he won’t be in the 17 this week. It’s not because of injury, but he has done a good job.”

Lachie Miller sustained season-ending hamstring damage against Wigan and Ash Handley switches from centre to take over at full-back. Stand-off Brodie Croft will make his 200th career appearance in his final regular-season match for Rhinos before joining Warrington Wolves. His tally so far includes 77 games for Leeds, 55 with Salford Red Devils, 26 for Brisbane Broncos, 40 for Melbourne Storm and one with Combined Nations All Stars.

Leeds Rhinos stand-off Brodie Croft will make his 200th career appearance this evening, against Hull FC. Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com.

Croft has scored touched down 28 times this season and is vying with Sivo (29), Wigan’s Zach Eckersley (26) and Josh Charnley of Leigh Leopards (25) to finish as Betfred Super League’s top try scorer.

Hull’s ex-Rhinos winger Tom Briscoe is set to play his 400th and final Super League game this evening before hanging up his boots. He turned out 174 times in the competition for Leeds, made 195 appearances for Hull and played 30 Super League matches with Leigh Leopards.

Former Leeds star Zak Hardaker is back in Hull’s initial squad for a farewell appearance before joining York Knights next season and James Bell returns from concussion. They replace ex-Rhinos prop Sam Lisone (personal reasons) and forward Ligi Sao (concussion) in Hull’s 21-man squad.

Leeds Rhinos: from Sivo, Newman, Handley, Hall, Croft, Connor, Oledzki, O’Connor, Holroyd, Watkins, Palasia, Hankinson, Jenkins, Smith, Cassell, Lumb, Nicholson-Watton, F McCormack, Lloyd, Lodge, Bird.

Hull's former Leeds Rhinos winger Tom Briscoe will retire after making his 400th Super League appearance in tonight's game between the sides. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Hull FC from: Barron, Litten, Hardaker, Martin, Arthur, Sezer, Ese’ese, Bourouh, Hill, Bell, Briscoe, Romano, Bailey, Moy, Laidlaw, Salabio, Hutchinson, Kemp, Johnson, Clark, O’Neill.

Referee: Aaron Moore (Wigan). Kick-off: Friday, 8pm.