The ball is quickly worked from left to right by Hull KR, but captain Elliot Minchella knocks on.

And just like that, the sniff of an opening try is gone.

The incident is reviewed by video referee Ben Thaler, who decides that the ball is stripped.

The on-field call in overruled and Hull KR get the penalty in their favour.

The visitors will launch this attack from just a few metres out.

The Hull FC attack breaks down, and the loose ball is scooped up.

Hull KR are on the break and area heading to the left corner with Mikey Lewis with ball in hand.

The ball is knocked on, but there is a captain's challenge...

A lovely offload from Herman Ese-ese has Aiden Sezer punch through a gap for for Hull FC.

It has the home crowd off their seats for a moment.

The sets ends with a shanked kick, but Hull KR's Tom Davies fumbles to hand the Black and Whites a chance to attack from inside the Robins' half.

It's frustration for the visitors as they rush the line.

Hull FC come up with the ball and eventually come up with a scrum feed. It's a let-off for sure.

The hosts no try work their way out of their own half for the first time.

It ends with Aiden Sezer attempting a 40-20, but it just doesn't come off.

Oliver Gildart pick-pockets the ball back for the Robons as Hull FC try to work their way up field.

This sets them for their first attack... what will come of it?

Robbie Hunter-Paul
Former New Zealand international on BBC One

That's energy, adrenaline. It's what it does to you.

You need to calm down a little bit but no one's telling these players to calm down.

From Hull KR's first set the kick goes long and the chase is hungry.

They have Hull FC right back on their line. It's a high-energy start from the Robins.

It's a gloriously sunny day in Hull and the Robins have Hull FC working hard to make metres with their first set.

They kept the hosts pinned there. A tone-setting set, for sure.

John Kear
Former Bradford Bulls head coach on BBC One

We've got a packed house and the sun is shining.

It's over to the players.

And off we go! Mikey Lewis kicks off for Hull KR.

MKM Stadium roars to life as the two sets of players emerge from the tunnel.

We are just moments from kick-off.

There are few family subplots in today’s game.

Will Pryce comes in for his Hull FC debut, and there were lovely scenes pre-match with the stand-off handed his shirt by father Leon, who won the Challenge Cup with the Black and Whites in 2016.

Meanwhile, family loyalties in the Litten household might be somewhat strained. Davy starts at centre for Hull FC while his cousin Jez will be coming off the bench for the Robins.

Image source, swpix.com

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters believes his side can draw on their big-game experience in recent years.

The Robins have reached the semi-finals in the cup in each of the past three seasons and were beaten by Wigan in last year's Grand Final.

"We've played a fair few cup games in the past three seasons and played in a lot of do-or-die games now so we understand what is at stake," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"We have to focus on the performance, if we get that right it puts us in good stead to get a result.

"This game will be like a final in terms of atmosphere. We'll only have 3,500 there but it will feel like 20,000."

Image source, Swpix.com

John Cartwright has seen somewhat of a miraculous turnaround in Hull FC's fortunes since taking over in the off-season after four years as Brisbane Broncos assistant.

The Black and Whites have already won more games in Super League this season than they managed in the whole of their dire 2024 campaign. And the the 2025 season is only just a few weeks old!

The Australian has said his side, who fought back from 22-6 down to beat Challenge Cup holders Wigan Warriors 26-22 in the previous round, are benefitting from adding steel to their performances.

"We didn't go in setting goals or with expectations," he said.

"We're a whole brand new side and club, it was just about going out and being competitive and not giving up until the end. I think if you do that then you'll be involved in winning most games."

John Cartwright has actually just come out to talk to the BBC about what it feels like to prepare his Hull FC side for such a high-profile and high-stakes derby.

And while talking to reporter Tanya Arnold live on BBC One, he suffers a nose bleed. He takes it in his stride, rubs the claret from his face with a smile and continues on.

Mr Cool, right there.

Image source, Swpix.com

Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has said that his side face a "daunting task" in their Challenge Cup quarter-final against city rivals Hull KR.

Willie Peters' side have won all eight of their matches in all competitions this season and are top of Super League, while Cartwright's men are second in the top flight with four wins from their opening six games.

"They're a red-hot side. It's not only what they've done this year, it's what they've been able to do in the past three years when Willie has been there. They're probably the strongest they've been," Cartwright told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's a daunting task and they'll be short-priced favourites I'd imagine but when you run across that stripe and it's two passionate teams going at one another then favourites go out the window."

Image source, Rex Features

Hull FC bring in new signing Will Pryce for today's derby against Hull KR, as he makes his debut for the club in the halves alongside Aidan Sezer.

John Cartwright makes two other changes to his line-up as Zak Hardaker and Yusuf Aydin come in, with Cade Cust, Will Kirby and Brad Fash missing out.

Hull FC: Rapana; Briscoe, Hardaker, Litten, Martin; Pryce, Sezer; Ese Ese; Bourouh, Knight, Chamberlain, Lane, Asiata.

Interchanges: Ashworth, Aydin, Eseh, Moy.

Hull KR make two changes to their line-up for today's tie.

Arthur Mourgue - who is cup tied having played for Catalans prior to his move to Craven Park - and the injured James Batchelor drop out with Kelepi Tanginoa and Joe Burgess coming into their starting line-up.

Hull KR: Broadbent; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Tanginoa, Minchella.

Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Whitbread, Brown.

So, it's been almost 40 years since these two great rivals went head-to-head in this oldest and most grand of cup competitions.

Footage of that match makes for wonderful viewing for anyone that fancy's a bit of the 'old school'. There was snow piled up around the edges of Hull KR's Craven Park and players were caked in mud from head to toe by the end.

BBC Look North's preview of this derby packaged up the nostalgia beautifully, and even reminded us that Madonna was near the top of the song charts at the time with her hit 'Borderline'. The synthesizer riff in that song alone is enough to transport you back to the 1986!!

Image source, Swpix.com

Before we dig into the smorgasbord that is the Hull derby, let's quickly recap last night's quarter final action...

Over in France, Catalans Dragons became the first team to book their place in the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup in an ill-tempered and mistake-ridden victory against Salford Red Devils.

Tries from Nick Cotric, Arthur Romano, Elliott Whitehead - who was also sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle - and Theo Fages were enough to earn the hosts the 20-12 victory.

Meanwhile, second-half tries from Fanitesi Niu and Bailey Hodgson helped Leigh Leopards fight back to Wakefield Trinity to reach the last four of the competition.