HULL centre Lee Radford will call on his Super League experiences when he plays his first rugby union derby against Ionians this weekend.
The 33-year-old has played in many Super League derbies for Hull FC against Hull KR and is expecting just as tough a game when second-placed Ionians travel to the Ferens Ground.
Ionians enter the game unbeaten in the last four derbies, winning the last three, and Radford knows it will be a tough ask.
"The intensity is certainly going to be up there because of the rivalry we have with Ionians," he told the Mail.
"They are flying high in the table at the moment and we lost the first derby this season so we have a fair bit to prove.
"They have had a better run not just in the derbies, but in the league in general.
"But there's nothing like a good challenge to test you and this will be a real challenge.
"We've won our last couple of games and whilst Saturday's win against Sheffield Tigers wasn't our best performance, it was a steady display.
"We performed really well the previous week and we will look to take that form into this Saturday's derby."
Radford warmed up for the clash with a try in Hull's 40-31 win over Sheffield, his first since scoring in the last Good Friday Super League derby at the KC Stadium to provide the spark for the Black and Whites to beat Rovers 36-6.
Motu Tony, another former Hull star, also scored against the Tigers and the pair are forming a good centre partnership for Hull.
Radford said: "It's great to play alongside Motu again.
"You can see he's played union as a kid as he's taken to it like a duck to water.
"He's had a shocking time of it with injuries in recent years and I'm pleased he's on the field alongside me.
"Saturday's try was my first one for the club.
"It was nice to get over and, more importantly, it was nice to get the win.
"It was my first try since scoring in the Good Friday derby against Rovers, which is too many months ago.
"It's not a great statistic so, hopefully, I'm due a couple more soon."
Radford, who has won every domestic honour in rugby league, believes his side's recent good form can help them win their first derby in five attempts.
With three successive wins behind them, Radford is looking to extend that winning run into the New Year when the season restarts after their winter break.
"It would be nice for us to sign off for the Christmas break with a fourth successive win," he added.
"It was massive for us to get the win against Sheffield because it's nice to take some form into derbies.
"We now have some momentum to take into the derby.
"I'm expecting a physical game because whenever it's a derby the intensity lifts.
"It won't be the same as a Super League derby, but the big crowd will make sure the game will be played with plenty of physicality."
