Thursday 14 July 2016 23:01, UK
Hull derbies are feisty affairs at the best of times but with top spot in sight for FC and a place in the Super 8s still up for grabs for KR, there's plenty riding on Thursday's game, live on Sky Sports.
Will the Airlie Birds push their rivals into the Middle 8s or will the Robins hand Wigan the advantage in the race for first?
Here's three head-to-heads that could decide it...
An intriguing match-up at half back between two playmakers who can control the game if their packs provide the go-forward to work from.
Marc Sneyd has had a cracking season for the Black and Whites. He's put an inconsistent 2015 behind him to show his true colours to the FC faithful with a run of form that's caught the eye of England coach Wayne Bennett.
Despite the defeat to Leeds last week, Sneyd impressed - especially with his kicking game. He's the go-to man with the boot, putting in 137 attacking kicks, 120 more than anyone else in the side and also the most in Super League.
His playmaking extends to ball-in-hand too, and Sneyd has provided the most try assists in the FC side with 15. Lee Radford will be pleased with the form of his No 7 going into the crunch end of the season, so can Sneyd put the boot into his side's biggest rivals come Thursday night?
In the Red and White corner, KR have a magician of their own in the No 7 jersey. Kelly swept the board at the club's 2015 Player of the Year awards and remains a huge threat for the Robins even if he hasn't quite hit the heights of last season.
The 25-year-old possesses an ability to unlock Super League defences that other playmakers struggle to match - highlighted by his six tries and ten try assists, while he has also put in 65 attacking kicks with the boot.
Kelly's eye for a gap is a key weapon in KR's attacking armoury; he's made 13 clean breaks, three more than any other team-mate, as well as 46 tackle busts, the joint-second best for his club.
One thing is for sure, if KR are to turn over their rivals on Thursday, they will need Kelly on red-hot form.
A pair of NRL imports clash on the wings on Thursday. Expect a few fireworks from Fetuli Talanoa and Ken Sio.
Talanoa's had a big year. He has already surpassed his try total for 2015 with three months remaining in the season. A physical winger, Talanoa has impressed with his carrying ability as much as his try-scoring potential.
He's crossed the whitewash ten times, just three behind top-scorer Jamie Shaul, and gives the side much needed go-forward with his kick returns. Talanoa has racked up 1752 metres, the fourth best in the FC side, at an average of 7.86 metres a drive, while also making 14 clean breaks and 49 tackle busts.
Numbers like that are a coach's dream and there's an argument he could be one of the best all-round wingers in Super League right now.
Hull KR also have a flyer out wide. Rovers have not notched bags of tries this season, but there's no surprise to see Sio joint-top of their pile having crossed the whitewash nine times.
He's looking to better his tally of 14 last season and there's no reason why he can't achieve that with a good chunk of games left.
But like Talanoa, Sio excels in other areas too. His record with ball in hand is seriously impressive, 2731 metres made, the best in the Red and White, while gaining at an average of 9.38 metres a drive - the second best in his team.
He's also registered nine clean breaks and 44 tackle busts. So if FC boast a top winger in Talanoa, KR can counter with a star of their own in Sio.
You can expect the two forward packs to be fired up for derby day, but which front row can get on the front foot and set a platform for the backs?
Scott Taylor is one of the competition's form props and he's another FC star on Wayne Bennett's radar. Oh, and did we mention he's a former Robin? If that isn't enough motivation, then the injury concern over front row partner-in-crime Liam Watts should be.
Lee Radford will need a big performance from Taylor on Thursday, and his stats suggest he's up to the task. With 2047 metres - the second best in the side - at an average of 8.32 metres a drive, his states are exceptional for a prop forward.
And Taylor's pretty nifty with the ball too. He may not have the offloading skills of Watts, but he's still crossed for three tries and provided three try assists as well. Throw in his 36 tackle busts and three clean breaks and you've got a forward excelling in his offence game. His defence isn't too shabby either; 540 tackles completed, the third best in the FC side.
KR need their own enforcers to stand up on Thursday night, and with James Green serving the second of a two-match ban, there's added pressure on the shoulders of Mitch Allgood.
His metre figures aren't the highest; 1330 metres at an average of 7.11m a drive, but Allgood's defence is important.
He has made the most tackles in a KR shirt, completing 643 hits, 94 more than the next best. Allgood has moved around positionally this season, starting the majority of games in the second row before moving into the front row for the last three games.
He's missed just one match in 2016 and the Robins will need Allgood to help get the forward pack moving forward against an impressive FC unit.
Watch Hull FC v Hull KR live on Sky Sports 2 HD on Thursday from 7.30pm. Catch the match for £6.99 on NOW TV. No contract.
