Craven Park will be no place for the faint-hearted on Sunday. With two games in hand and a four point deficit, the Robins will see this as a major chance to gain ground on Hornets and as a launch pad for their top three ambitions.

Equally, Hally knows that we need all the points we can get if we are to consolidate our position - indeed, with 4th place Featherstone at 2nd place Leigh on Sunday these two points are vital.

While Hornets were stealing in for a last gasp win last week, Hull KR were busy giving Chorley Lynx lots of practice at standing under their own crossbar, thumping them soundly 58-6.

Leading the way was livewire winger Alisdair McClarron who weighed in a hat-trick. Recruited from another rugby-based football code, opinion seems split between Robins fans as to whether he's worth his place in the side, but performances like this should go some way to silencing the critics.

Also at the forefront of last week's assault was teenage prodigies Jon Wilkin and Chris Stephenson - Wilkin steering the pack around from loose forward, Stephenson kicking four goals from substitute.

Elsewhere, in the threequarters the Alex Godfrey/Lynton Stott axis got on the scoresheet - but they'll have significantly less room to work with this week with Matty Calland and Brendan O'Meara breathing down their necks.

As always, crafty Craig Murdock's kicking game provides headaches aplenty and with the fast-improving Jimmy Walker outside him, it should be an interesting tussle round the back of the scrum.

But Gary Wilkinson has a much bolstered team available for selection this week, with Mark Cain, Nick Pinkney, ex-Hornet Dane Dorahy and Richard Wilson all fit and ready to slot into what looks like a very strong side.

Martin Hall has doubts about David Stephenson who strained a thigh muscle late in the game last week - how sick he must be of the sight of Whitehaven (and even the white of Shitehaven!). Expect a return to the 17 for James Bunyan.

The biggest doubt, though, is whether the game will actually go ahead. The Craven Park pitch has a bit of a reputation for its somewhat swampy properties and, given the amount of rain dumped on the East Coast this week (severe weather warnings from the BBC at 7.45am today - Friday), it's worth keeping an eye on Ceefax. If we hear anything, we'll post it here.

But assuming that the squelchfest goes ahead as planned, this will be a real nailbiter. Even the saying it - 'Hull Kingston Rovers versus Rochdale Hornets' - makes it sound worth the trip.

It was at this stage last season that Hull KR ground out a late 6-4 win, and Hornets are keen that there will be no repeat. So pack your pack-a-mac, fill your flask, pile your mates into the car and get across the M62. This will be real Rugby League at its most intense. See you there.