DERBIES are notoriously difficult to predict. My usual theory is the team that you think is going to win and should win usually doesn't.
So, because I think Hull KR should win on Friday and are favourites, I feel FC will just sneak in because they've got home advantage.
The Black and Whites are five points off the top eight with only six points available to them and I think they've had it regardless of whether they win or not.
Hull have had a couple of 'up' displays, as well as a couple of down ones, but I believe the team owe it to Lee Radford to put in a good performance.
KR must win to have any chance of overtaking Widnes or Catalan.
They're at that stage where there are no second chances. If they lose, I think it will be time to put their cue on the rack as well.
For the first time in a long while, the game is not on TV so I believe there'll be a big turn-out to witness what will be a fantastic game.
I get the feeling it will be a couple of scores either way.
It will be very disappointing not to see either of the city's sides contesting the play-offs.
At the start of the season, both teams would have set finishing in the top eight as a minimum target.
But this season has shown Super League is getting more competitive, no team has a given right to be in the play-offs.
As a sport that's what we want to see, but as far as KR and FC are concerned I believe it's been a wake-up call.
They need to recruit better and recruit from within.
Look at Leeds, who won the Challenge Cup final at the weekend, the core of their team – Kevin Sinfield, Danny McGuire and Rob Burrow – has been together for 10 years.
That's what you need to be successful and KR and FC are now looking to get on that bandwagon.
Perhaps 2014 will prove a watershed, the last occasion both teams finished outside the eight and the time where both teams put greater emphasis on growing their own players.
Hopefully, we'll look back and think 2014 was the year they both finally realised what needed to be done.
Who will have the edge on Friday?
Well, look no further than how the Rhinos beat Castleford at Wembley.
I'm quite glad they won as it would have been harsh if the successful dynasty of Sinfield, Burrow and McGuire had not managed to win at Wembley, given what they have done for the sport and for Leeds.
It's not so much that Castleford lost it, it was the fact they were not allowed to play their natural game and had to rely on scraps.
I thought they did very well to keep it as close as they did and the Tigers will surely be better for the experience.
Rhinos were brilliant, stuck to their game plan and their big-game players stood up and played really well.
Leeds in general dictated the game and played the way they wanted to.
So it might sound boring, but on Friday whichever side does that, completes their sets, their kicks and takes their chances will come out on top.
There's no hidden agendas and no great secrets. It sounds so easy, but the mentality and atmosphere of a derby makes it much more difficult.
People talk about it being just another game, it's this, it's that, but we know it's not.
