The warm weather it would seem has played into the hands of Rovers, as they've been able to ramp up the pace and tire out the big Hull middle.

It's only four points though and we've still more than an hour to play. Not over yet.

BBC Radio Humberside

Image source, Rex Features

Carlos Tuimavave cops a whack while taking the ball to the Rovers line and is down receiving treatment. Looks like a jaw/cheekbone problem.

Clock is stopped. He heads for some assessment.

How do you assess it so far? Busy! Rovers probably better in terms of field position but Hull have looked defensively solid and might have scored but for the video referee.

Brilliant jink by Albert Kelly there. Looked like he might sweep through a gap but Graeme Horne unable to bring the ball in.

Hull FC have some possession now. Inside the 20 metres...

Hull FC get a scrum after another Albert Kelly kick - this time it was knocked on by Ken Sio.

Lee Radford's side work the ball wide and are in the Rovers half at the end of their set. Good chase. Rovers start their set midway inside their own half.

Still no score. It's been frantic though.

Wallop! Frank Pritchard made a booming hit on Ben Cockayne after Rovers exploited space on the left.

Liam Watts, against his old club, smuggles in the last tackle kick and Hull FC survive.

Breathless stuff at the moment. Hull unable to find field position and are relying on big kicks downfield in a bid to turn the home side round.

Rovers try to press the Black and Whites line and pepper the backline through Albert Kelly's kick but big three-quarter Mahe Fonua brings the ball clear.

Early kicks from Hull banged down field and the chase is ferocious. Rovers retain possession.

Rovers go close on the corresponding set but run out of tackles by the line.

It's a warm day and you wonder just how long the two teams can handle this bruisingly-quick pace.

FC have the bigger pack you'd gauge, Rovers might look to exploit the fringes.

Carlos Tuimavave got the ball from Josh Mantellato in a tackle and streaked to the line but it was ruled out for a strip. Hull FC denied.

Tackles are going in, big hits. It's intense already.

Less than a minute on the clock and we have a try review...

Rovers in white, FC in blue. We are off!

Image source, Rex Features

As Tony Christie sweeps away from the field, the first strains of 'Old Faithful' ripple from the away end.

Now as the teams emerge from the tunnel, we get the White Stripes and a roar of 'Hull Kingston Rovers'.

It's all set. Game on.

Some of the tension and intensity that lies in wait has been somewhat displaced by the odd sight of Tony Christie leading a sing-song on the Craven Park turf.

Still, folk seem to be enjoying it... kick-off not far away now!

Is this the biggest derby in rugby league?

There are some fierce old rivalries up in Cumbria, obviously Wigan and Saints, not to mention Leeds and Bradford, Widnes v Warrington, Batley v Dewsbury!

Let us know what you think, use the #bbcrl hashtag.

Saturday, 3 May 1980 remains a special date in the calendar for those on the east side of Hull, as it marks Hull KR's Challenge Cup final win against FC under the old twin towers at Wembley.

Steve Hubbard's try and trusty boot, plus the bravery and skill of player-coach Roger Millward guided the Robins to a 10-5 success.

Watch the Super League Show rewind piece.

It was a blip for Hull FC, who were to become one of the most exciting teams in the country over the next few seasons with players such as David Topliss, Gary Kemble and James Leuluai.

They eventually got their hands on the cup two years later in an Elland Road replay against Widnes.

And just to show we're not biased, here's a Floodlit Trophy final to remember for you Airlie Birds...

Image source, Rex Features

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Both coaches - Lee Radford and James Webster - know just how big this game is to the fans... they've played in them.

And as Guardian rugby league journalist Aaron Bower points out, there's some neat history to their presence in the stands.

Hull KR have star playmaker Albert Kelly in the team after a three-game absence. He could be key alongside Maurice Blair in the halves.

Hull FC welcome back powerful three-quarter Mahe Fonua for the first time since injuring his knee on debut against Salford.

We're closing in on kick-off in the opening Hull league derby of the season. It's glorious weather.

Let's have a look at the teams.