Hull pair hoping to kickstart season with derby win

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Hull FC, last season's Grand Final runners-up, and Hull Kingston Rovers, newly-promoted after far too long in the wilderness, have lost much of their swagger.

Scroll down for more

Key man: Cooke's late test

Both go into the 23,000 sell-out showdown at the KC Stadium, home of the Black and Whites, in the bottom half of the table.

Hull have been disappointing, bar their victory over St Helens, and Rovers have lost four successive games after confounding their critics and the bookmakers by leading the table early on.

Significantly, the downturn for both clubs followed injuries to play-makers Paul Cooke (Hull) and James Webster (Rovers), who face late fitness tests.

Hamstring victim Cooke, from East Hull and a self-confessed Rovers fan in his youth, has been out since February and the Black and Whites have missed his creativity and goal-kicking.

Rovers have not been the same since Webster, their Australian scrum-half and captain, damaged ankle ligaments. The respective coaches, Hull's Peter Sharp and Rovers' Justin Morgan, face crucial decisions before the 12.30pm kick-off.

"Cookie has a definite chance," Sharp said. "But we won't be taking any risks."

Morgan rated Webster "50-50" for the derby, adding: "We would love him to play but if he is not right, we will hold him back."

Whoever gets the nod, it is a massive game for both clubs even if they are scheduled to meet each other three more times in Super League this season.

"It is going to be a special occasion because it has been 10 years in the making," said Sharp. "The build-up has been enormous."

Morgan is equally excited. "It is great to be involved," he said. "It's a momentous occasion we can look back on in 10 to 15 years, and say we were there."

Elsewhere, Wakefield and Bradford meet at Belle Vue in a dress rehearsal for their forthcoming Carnegie Challenge Cup fifth-round tie and champions St Helens have the chance to replace Leeds at the top by defeating Salford.

Catalans, delighted to be in the top half for the first time, welcome Harlequins to the south of France and injury-hit Warrington face rejuvenated Huddersfield.