Round 19 of the Betfred Super League season continues to bring battles which will have a huge say on the placings come the year's end, with Hull FC now heading upwards towards the play-offs and Castleford Tigers looking desperately over their shoulders.
Here is everything you need to know about the huge Saturday fixture.
Hull FC v Castleford Tigers
Where: MKM Stadium, Hull.
When: 3pm (BST)
TV: No UK screening
Hull FC's last five: Won 16-6 @ Hull KR (Rd 18), Lost 18-28 v Catalans (Rd 17), Won 34-6 v St Helens (Rd 16), Lost 16-28 @ Leigh (Rd 15), Won 30-18 v Warrington (Rd 14)
Castleford's last five: Lost 16-34 v Leigh (Rd 18), Lost 0-22 @ St Helens (Rd 17), Won 23-14 v Warrington (Rd 16), Lost 10-42 v Salford (Rd 15), Won 26-24 v Leeds (Rd 14)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Hull FC 2/9, Castleford 7/2, draw 20/1
First try scorer odds: Adam Swift (Hull FC) 7/1, Darnell McIntosh (Hull FC) 7/1, Jake Clifford (Hull FC) 12/1, Davy Litten (Hull FC) 12/1, Bureta Faraimo (Castleford) 14/1
Milestones:
If selected for Cas, former Hull FC front man Liam Watts will be making his 350th career appearance.
Previous meetings:
Round 1, 2023: Hull FC 32, Castleford Tigers 30
Round 20, 2022: Hull FC 18, Castleford Tigers 46
Round 4, 2022: Castleford Tigers 33, Hull FC 26
Round 21, 2021: Hull FC 12, Castleford Tigers 23
Round 9, 2021: Castleford Tigers 12, Hull FC 30
Total Super League meetings: 55 (Hull FC 28, Castleford 24, three draws)
While these two sides were matching each other in terms of recent form until last week's results, Hull FC's derby win against Hull Kingston Rovers has given the Airlie Birds a fresh spring in their step in a season in which the play-off picture contains at least nine teams with a third of the campaign still to play. Tony Smith's side know that another win over a Castleford Tigers side they have already sent away unhappy from the MKM Stadium once this term will leave them well placed to make a Leeds Rhinos-esque late run for glory.
The Tigers, though, have seen their fortunes thrown into doubt by Wakefield Trinity's resurgence in recent times, meaning a victory at the MKM is imperative. Perhaps the 32-30 loss in Round 1 was indicative of what was to come from both sides in 2023, with each team performing well for 40 minutes without turning in a fully convincing display, but Andy Last now has to treat the remaining nine games as the biggest he will ever coach.
Sportsman stat: Hull's 32-8 Challenge Cup win over Cas in May was only the fourth time in 46 meetings in which either side has failed to register double figures.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
