Paul Deacon has been cleared for duty at Hull - despite leaving the field on Sunday drenched in blood.

The Bulls' scrum-half picked up the latest instalment in his season of head injuries in the defeat by London, but is expected to make the trip to the KC Stadium this week.

Deacon passed the obligatory post-head injury doctor's examination and should return to action as the Bulls travel to East Yorkshire for the crunch second versus third clash.

Deacon received 16 staples in his head after the second-half collision with Jim Dymock's knee and had to be carried off.

Although he missed training at the beginning of the week, Deacon was expected to resume today and should be named in the side for Sunday.

Last week's collision was the fifth head injury Deacon has suffered this season, but remarkably he has yet to miss a game.

His other injuries include:

l Stretchered off against Wakefield after colliding with David Wrench's knee.

l Nearly detaching his retina on Jamie Peacock's elbow.

l Four stitches after training ground collision with Karl Pryce.

l Four stitches in his chin after a hit by Terry Newton.

Deacon also sports a facial scar after colliding with Apollo Perelini's boot in 1998.

"It just adds character to my face," joked Deacon, despite the heavy stapling in his head.

"It must just be one of those seasons. They are not happening on purpose, I think it is just a run of bad luck I'm having.

"It could be worse though, and I still haven't missed a game."

Deacon's all-clear is a welcome boost for Brian Noble, who has had seven other stars miss training this week.

Fitness tests today are likely to rule a number of players back into contention although Scott Naylor (knee) will miss out and Paul Anderson (calf) is a severe doubt for the club's first trip to the KC Stadium.

Lee Radford (virus), Tevita Vaikona (leg), Lesley Vainikolo (leg) and Jamie Langley (calf) all joined long-term crocks Stuart Fielden and Mick Withers on the sidelines.