She the derby definitely means more than a game against Widnes, Salford, Wakey, Huddersfield, etc. I think I'm at a point now where I'd rather beat Leeds away than Rovers away.

I don't watch rugby matches because they are worth league points. I watch because they make me feel passion and pride and shame and joy. These emotions are heightened in derby games. Of course I look forward to winning at Old Trafford and every win gets us closer to achieving that. But that is a distant goal whereas getting one over our neighbours is here and now.

If it was just another game, then the attendance would be somewhere in the region of 11-12K.

Not sure its a game that I get a kick out of if we win, but its the game I get annoyed about most if we lose.

Ever since the first derby I went to in 1982, its the game you looked out for when the fixtures were releases.

Yes, its 2 points, like all other games, but there is a buzz about the derby which no other game can generate.

regardless of who we are playing this week we need to start winning games away from the KC again, we've only won 1 of our last 8 away matches (including Aus), that being against an under strength castleford in the super 8s last year

That's terrible. Yet another factor in Rovers favour.

What's the other factors

Home advantage obviously
Timely boosts of Lunt et al returning
Best coach in the comp vs “pub landlord”
Much better form over last couple of games
Minns confirming you’re galvanised and ripping in

That’ll do for starters.

Stat from Radford in the HDM about our response to conceding a try - in 6 out of 7 games we’ve conceded another within 5 minutes. Not good.

If we can't beat that lot with the team we have we may as well give up .The only thing that will beat FC on friday is attitude, get that right and its a comfortable win , get it wrong and its a narrow but embarrassing win for the dobbins.

Not been big headed but regardless of who they have in there squad if we play well we win simple as that IMO.