HULL FC coach Peter Gentle has challenged his side to 'step up' their performances against Super League's big boys – starting with a victory at Warrington tonight.
The Black and Whites have been steadily improving as the season has progressed, climbing into sixth spot with four wins from their last five league games.
The scalp of one of the league's supposed big names still evades Gentle's men this term though, with Hull yet to claim a win against any of Super League's current top four.
But heading to face a Warrington team five points clear of them in third tonight, Gentle is confident his side is ready to claim a significant win.
"The back end of the year is on its way now so we need to start winning games and start competing with the top sides," Gentle said.
"We lost to Warrington earlier in the year and with the injuries we had at that time, it was probably more acceptable than a loss would be tonight.
"We went 60 minutes with them, which we did with a few sides earlier in the season, but there's a lot more belief in the side now.
"The side is also a lot more settled in that we have found a structure that works. Everyone knows their role now and we are really looking to build into this second part of the season.
"We want to be competing with these sides and every game is important from hereon in."
Gentle sees similarities in tonight's clash to that with Wigan at the KC Stadium last month when, despite matching the league leaders for long periods, they fell to a 28-20 defeat.
It was a game which Gentle and his players still feel they could, and should, have won, with those lessons being taken into tonight.
"We have got to replicate that performance and also step it up a few gears," Gentle added.
"We always want more, we are never completely satisfied, but we have put everything to one side – all our goals and talk of where we want to finish – and we focus week to week.
"Warrington are the side in front of us this week and that's what we will concentrate on. "They are the side we have to beat this week and to do that we will need to do better in the ruck control, with the ball and without it.
"The dominance in the ruck area, especially against these top sides, are paramount to what you are doing."
