Tony Smith's turnaround at Hull FC has the Airlie Birds dreaming of a top-six spot once more, with just four points separating them from the play-off positions after a run which has seen them beat Huddersfield Giants, Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity.
But Salford Red Devils are one of the teams they are chasing and they head to face Paul Rowley's men on Sunday.
Here is everything you need to know about the final game of Round 13.
Salford Red Devils v Hull FC
Where: AJ Bell Stadium, Eccles.
When: 3:00pm (BST)
TV: OuRLeague app
Salford's last five: Lost 12-26 @ St Helens (Rd 12), Won 22-12 @ Leeds (Rd 11), Won 16-14 v Catalans (Rd 10), Won 14-6 v Castleford (Rd 9), Won 22-20 @ Leigh (Rd 8)
Hull FC's last five: Won 26-6 @ Wakefield (Rd 12), Won 14-10 v Wigan (Rd 11), Won 20-14 v Huddersfield (Rd 10), Lost 10-34 @ Leeds (Rd 9), Lost 0-40 @ Hull KR (Rd 8)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): Salford 8/11, Hull FC 6/5, draw 16/1
First try scorer odds: Ken Sio (Salford) 8/1, Adam Swift (Hull FC) 9/1, Joe Burgess (Salford) 10/1, Rhys Williams (Salford) 11/1, Darnell McIntosh (Hull FC) 12/1
Milestones:
Ken Sio could make his 250th career appearance, dating back to his four seasons with Parramatta Eels in the NRL and taking in spells with Hull KR, Newcastle Knights and now five years with Salford.
With eight goals, Marc Sneyd will reach 1000 in his career. Of those, 237 have come with Salford and 619 for Sunday's opponents Hull.
Brad Dwyer's next appearance will be his 200th in Super League, while Chris Satae will clock up a career century the next time he plays.
Previous meetings:
Round 4, 2023: Hull FC 14, Salford Red Devils 60
Round 25, 2022: Salford Red Devils 28, Hull FC 18
Round 3, 2022: Hull FC 48, Salford Red Devils 16
Round 22, 2021: Salford Red Devils 42, Hull FC 14
Round 2, 2021: Salford Red Devils 4, Hull FC 35
Total Super League meetings: 53 (Salford 16, Hull FC 37, no draws)
After coming within 80 minutes of the Grand Final last season, Salford's presence in the top six at this point in 2023 hasn't come as a great surprise. But the competition is now beginning to hot up, with the likes of Hull Kingston Rovers, Catalans Dragons, Leigh Leopards, St Helens, Leeds Rhinos and Hull FC all within distance of the Red Devils between third and ninth. The Tyler Dupree drama of the last week ought not become a sideshow, but neither should fans expect a repeat of the 60-14 battering of Hull at the MKM earlier this term.
For Hull's part their improved form of late will probably get it's toughest test at the AJ Bell on Sunday. Sure, they have beaten Wigan as part of the run, but Salford have become a stubborn nut to crack on home turf. Tony Smith will again be putting much of his faith in the new half-back pairing of Jake Trueman and Jake Clifford, with the former's return from injury having coincided with better results for the Black and Whites.
Sportsman stat: Marc Sneyd is the only player ever to win the Lance Todd Trophy outright in back-to-back Challenge Cup finals, picking up the 2016 and 2017 Player of the Match honours with Hull FC.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
