Massive first carry by Ben Flower. What you might call, a tone-setter.

Full of aggression, full of grind and grunt. Hopefully the likes of Ben Barba, Morgan Escare, Danny Richardson and George Williams can bring the class to match.

The Totally Wicked Stadium is living up to its name today as the teams emerge onto the field.

Packed to the rafters. Fans bedecked in red and white and the nuanced cherry and white.

Saints in traditional colours, Wigan in a grey/black ensemble.

Robert Hicks is the man in the middle. It's pumping. We are off to a raucous roar.

Image source, Getty Images

What a bloke! Mal Meninga - one of the greatest footballers to play this grand game - is present today at the Totally Wicked Stadium to take in this St Helens v Wigan derby.

His one season with Saints in 1984-85 remains a oft-talked of time by Saints fans. He won a Premiership final and a Lancashire Cup, but just the sight of him in full flight would have been more precious than any trophy I'd wager.

Wonder if the Aussie coach is here to see Benny Barba in action?

Image source, PA

We told you earlier that there would be no Sam Tomkins for Wigan today. Ben Barba is involved though on the other side.

Here's how Super League leaders St Helens and the second-placed Cherry and Whites line-up.

St Helens: Barba; Makinson, Morgan, Percival, Grace; Lomax, Richardson; Amor, Roby, Thompson, Peyroux, Taia, Wilkin.

Interchanges: Fages, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Douglas, Knowles.

Wigan: Escare; Davies, Bateman, Gildart, Burgess; Williams, Powell; Clubb, Leuluai, Flower, Isa, Farrell, O'Loughlin.

Interchanges: J Tomkins, Sutton, Tautai, Woods.

We'll take a look at the line-ups in a moment but before we do we should mention that we're off and running in the games at Warrington and Huddersfield.

Right, time to get out the smelling salts and have those senses primed for another derby battle, this time whizzing our way along the M62 to take in St Helens versus Wigan.

The other 15:00 BST game is a Cheshire derby as Warrington Wolves entertain Widnes Vikings.

Former Wigan wing Josh Charnley makes his debut for the Wolves after returning to league following his spell in union with Sale Sharks.

Warrington: Ratchford; Lineham, Goodwin, King, Charnley; Brown, Roberts; Hill, Clark, Cooper, Currie, Hughes, Westwood.

Interchanges: Philbin, Murdoch-Masila, Akauola, Smith.

Widnes: Hanbury; Marsh, Inu, Runciman, Chamberlain; Mellor, Gilmore; Chapelhow, Heremaia, Burke, Dean, Wilde, Houston.

Interchanges: Johnstone, Olbison, B Walker, Dudson.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

An outstanding game of rugby football league ends with Hull FC the winners in the first of a minimum three Hull derbies against Hull KR this season.

Nine tries, a red card, fisticuffs, skills, bruising hits, tries chalked off. It had it all.

It's a big win for Lee Radford's side - off his sick bed - to see his 12-man side overcome their rivals while Tim Sheens' first derby experience ends in defeat.

Try explaining that.

Marc Sneyd drop-goal attempt blocked!

Hull FC have the ball in range. One minute to go.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Mose Masoe knocks on at the ruck and with two to go, that must be it! Rovers look devastated.

There was one tackle left!

It looks like 12-man Hull have held out to win this bruising derby.

We've got two games kicking off at 15:00 BST. Here are the line-ups for the West Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield Giants and champions Leeds Rhinos.

Huddersfield: McIntosh; Simpson, Turner, Murphy, Senior; Rankin, Brough; Ikahihifo, O'Brien, Clough, Roberts, Lawrence, Hinchcliffe.

Interchanges: Ta'ai, Smith, Dickinson, Hewitt.

Leeds: Walker; Briscoe, Watkins, Handley, Hall; Moon, Myler; Mullally, Dwyer, Singleton, Jones-Buchanan, Ablett, Delaney.

Interchanges: Ferres, Smith, Oledzki, Golding.

Hull FC cling on, mopping up another kick in behind.

They are struggling for metres in the set though, perhaps the 12-man disadvantage is taking its toll.

Marc Sneyd sends a kick toward the corner - 40-20 attempt! Justin Carney leaps to tap it back in and Rovers get the ball.

Now it's about Hull keeping Rovers pegged back in their end of the field.

It's all kicking off with five to go.

James Greenwood and Marc Sneyd, Jake Connor and Chris Atkin. All having little spats.

Connor clung on in the tackle to concede the penalty. Meanwhile, Rovers sweep right. Held out five away...

Marc Sneyd managed to gather in the in-goal on the full. Gives Hull FC a 20-metre tap.

Rovers get the ball back and are marauding menacingly. This will go to the wire.

It's desperate stuff from both teams. Matty Marsh just clips a kick in behind to test the Hull defence, and Jamie Shaul pounces on it to concede the drop out.

It was that or a Rovers try.

12 minutes to go. Can your ticker take it?! Can mine?! What a game.