It's really high tempo this.

Ryan Hall is put away down the left for Hull KR, and he stomps forward.

He has Niall Evalds up in support, but the little over the top basketball pass is too difficult to take in at pace and Leigh survive.

If Evalds gets a yard, he'll torch you.

Leigh so close to finishing off a slicing move down the left, weaving their way through.

Brad Dwyer was just about stopped, and the backpedalling Rovers managed to halt the switch to the right.

First bellringer of the game comes from Hull KR, who steam in to gang-tackle Matt Moylan and leave him on the deck.

It lifts the crowd. It was sublime.

Leigh throw plenty at Hull KR and backpedal them to their own 20.

On the last, Ben McNamara flashes a cut-out ball to Zak Hardaker on the right, and his flick pass attempts to set Umyla Hanley away.

However, the son of the great Ellery is shepherded to touch. Didn't have a lot of room to work in.

Breakneck pace to the first set of the game by Hull KR, which whizzed through inside one minute.

Leigh did well to limit the yardage though, and start just inside their own 40.

Chris Kendall gets word we're good to go, and we're underway at a packed Sewell Group Craven Park.

It's throbbing in here, as it so often is. One of the great matchdays in rugby league.

Fire and fireworks. Off we go. Leigh's Matt Moylan slings it and Robins pick up possession.

The cup is on its plinth in front of the tunnel, and the Hull KR and Leigh players pass it on their way out onto the pitch at Craven Park.

Huge roar from the East Stand on the far side, and from the away fans behind the posts in the Colin Hutton Stand. Great atmosphere.

Who says the Challenge Cup is dying?

Image source, BBC Sport

The pitch at Craven Park has had a bit of a kicking by the weather in the early part of the season, but head groundskeeper Liam Bashford has been grafting hard to get it looking good.

Far less moisture on it. It's holding up much better. It's lovely to be at a game without a film of rain hanging in front of the face.

By the way, Rovers' anthem 'Red, red robin' is one of the best. Proper earworm.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Hull KR start Saturday's Challenge Cup final rematch with holders Leigh as favourites because of their recent form, says Leopards boss Adrian Lam.

Last season's golden-point win over the Robins at Wembley was a triumphant moment for Lam and his Leigh side.

Key injuries have affected the Leopards so far in 2024 with just one Super League win, by contrast Rovers have won five from seven in the league.

"It's a tough place to go to and play well," Lam told BBC Radio Manchester.

"They've got the big crowd there behind them, they will be red hot favourites and so they should be as the last month has been scintillating for them with big scores.

"If we go up there and are not quite on it, it could happen to us. It's going to be a massive challenge for us, so I know we've got to play well."

While Lam has brought back metre-munching prop Tom Amone today, key back-row lynchpin John Asiata and hooker Edwin Ipape are among the other absentees making their way back to fitness.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Leigh's win in the Challenge Cup was a huge fillip for the Challenge Cup, as packed houses saw their semi-final win over St Helens and then the storybook final with dad and son - as Lachlan Lam kicked the drop goal winner - adding to the occasion.

Rovers more than played their part in the spectacle, clawing back to take the game to sudden-death themselves, having dumped out Super League champions-elect Wigan Warriors in their semi-final under the same circumstances.

While they suffered Wembley heartache, they did exact revenge in the play-offs by knocking out the Leopards in the eliminator round.

"People are plotting things around the game from last year and what happened, but not us, it's a different game and a different year," head coach Willie Peters told BBC Radio Humberside.

"Quarter finals of the Challenge Cup for 2024 and that's all we're focusing on, going out there and getting the result.

"In the Super League you can lose and play well, but Challenge Cup is sudden death and we know how we're going to go about that.

"Leigh are a very good team, we know they'll be coming here with the same mindset as what we've got."

Image source, Swpix.com

Hull KR made it to the quarter finals with a dominant victory over Salford, thumping Paul Rowley's side 40-0.

Ryan Hall scored twice as the Robins convincingly sealed their spot, as did ex-Red Devils backs Joe Burgess and Niall Evalds.

Leigh's progress was a little more challenging, as Championship side Featherstone provided a stiffer test.

Umyla Hanley scored a hat-trick for the Leopards but the pick of the tries was a long-range stunner from Fev winger Manoa Wacokecoke.

Hull KR make starting changes, as Joe Burgess, Jai Whitbread, Jez Litten and Dean Hadley come into the starting XIII, while Leo Tennison comes on to the bench.

Matt Parcell and Kelepi Tanginoa drop to the bench, but Louis Senior, ex-Leyther Ben Reynolds and Corey Hall miss out.

Gareth O'Brien is the big omission for Leigh who switch Matt Moylan to full-back and bring Ben McNamara into the halves from hooker.

New permanent signing Brad Dwyer starts at nine in his place, Tom Amone is the only addition to the squad and comes in to the front-row as Dan Norman drops to the bench.

Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hiku, Opacic, R. Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella

Interchanges: Parcell, Storton, Tanginoa, Tennison [Aydin]

Leigh: Moylan; Hanley, Hardaker, Leutele, Charnley; McNamara, Lam; Amone, Dwyer, Trout, O'Donnell, Halton, Hughes

Interchanges: Nakubuwai, Norman, Davis, Chamberlain [Baxter]

These two teams have history.

They made history in 2023. Some game, some final. Relive it here.

Image source, SWPIX.COM

Last season's Challenge Cup final between Leigh Leopards and Hull KR reignited interest in the competition with a remarkable encounter.

Adrian Lam's Leopards came up with the match-winning moment in golden point time after a see-sawing 80 minutes.

Lachlan Lam, his son and chief playmaker, dropped a stunning field goal to settle it and lift the famous trophy for the first time since 1971.

It was cruel on Rovers, who were seeking only their second Challenge Cup.

Today's game isn't the first time they've met since, but it is a tie that evokes all those memories of last August's head-spinner of a game.