PETER Gentle insists it is 'business as usual' at Hull FC this week and says no special plans are being made ahead of facing Hull KR.
Gentle is adamant, despite all the hype that comes with a cross-city clash, his focus is purely on getting the best from his men.
While some talk of gaining revenge for last year's controversial Magic Weekend derby defeat has come out of the Hull camp, the Black and Whites' coach insists his side have not dwelled on it.
And with that in mind, he also dismissed talk of having to learn any lessons from their loss to KR at the KC earlier this season.
"We would be doing every other game an injustice if we prepared any differently for a derby," Gentle told the Mail
"It is business as usual this week, the intensity doesn't change and neither does the preparation. There were a lot of things that went against us in the last derby.
"Having to play Joe Westerman and Richard Whiting in the halves, moving Richard Horne to full-back, having a heavy injury list.
"The game lacked intensity and whether we had genuine belief or not I don't know, but for one reason or another we were not at our best."
Heading into Saturday's Magic Weekend derby, Gentle will be confident Hull can be at their best after a run of seven wins from their eight games since that 23-10 defeat on Good Friday.
Strengthened in recent weeks by the return of Daniel Holdsworth and captain Gareth Ellis, Gentle could be further boosted by being able to call upon three of his first choice forwards from earlier in the season this week with Joe Westerman, Liam Watts and Ben Galea back in training.
Admitting he is in the fortunate position of not having to change a winning team, the Aussie is keeping his cards close to his chest when it comes to his final 17.
"Liam, Joe and Ben have all trained, but whether they will play or not is a decision we will make later in the week," added Gentle.
"They all want to play, but if they are not 100 per cent then they won't. We are in a position where we don't have to play anyone who isn't 100 per cent because of how well the boys are doing."
Galea has played a starring role in the past for Rovers at the Magic Weekend, helping the Robins to an unbeaten record against Hull at the event.
While admitting the manner of last season's last-gasp Magic loss still hurts, Gentle says there will be no dwelling on that result – something proved as FC bounced back to beat KR at MS3 Craven Park last year.
"Defeats like last year always hurt, you have to move on from those sorts of games though and leave them behind," he said.
