HULL KR stand-off Travis Burns intends to treat his derby debut like a Grand Final as he believes it could help to define his Robins career.
Looking on from the sidelines, Burns was blown away by the atmosphere generated in the pre-season friendly at the KC back in January.
Now he is only days away from making his mark on rugby league's only true derby, a game he feels is perfectly suited to his explosive style.
"People say derbies can be career-defining matches and hopefully it'll be mine," Burns told the Mail.
"I watched the derby from the sidelines in January and it was unbelievable with the fans singing throughout and Friday will be even bigger.
"I'll be treating Friday's derby like a Grand Final. The atmosphere makes it feel like a Grand Final anyway.
"It means so much to the east Hull boys and that's one of the reasons I signed for Rovers.
"I want to be involved in matches like this because I love the rivalry, that's why we play the game.
"The fans thrive on it and that's what makes them so passionate."
As a former team-mate of Clint Newton at Penrith Panthers, Burns knows all about the passion of the derby.
Whilst he is still finding his feet in Super League after being suspended for the first four games of the season, the play-maker is making his derby debut in good form.
Rovers have won three of the four games he has played, with the only defeat coming at Bradford when Burns and fellow half-back partner Michael Dobson were forced off injured in the second half.
Facing the second of three games inside eight days, the 28-year-old admits the Easter schedule is a demanding new challenge, but it's one he hopes to rise to.
"Playing three matches in such a short space of time will be tough, especially as I'm getting on a bit now," he added.
"It takes me a bit longer to get over games these days. But that is footie these days and we have to deal with it.
"Other teams have to do it as well so it could be a good time to face the big teams in the league. Everyone is in the same boat and the team that turns up with the right attitude will win.
"The Castleford game was just what we needed before the derby because we really ground out the win.
"We started well but we took our foot off their throat when we had the wind and field position. Sometimes you have to grind out results and fortunately we did that."
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