Rotherham Titans front up for one Hull of a promotion battle

Titans, in second place in National Two North, know that a maximum point victory could lift them to within four points of the leaders and with the advantage of a game in hand.

Lose and Adam Byron's men could be 13 points or more behind and needing to claw back a lot of ground in the run-in.

While recognising the importance of the fixture, Byron is stressing that the division's one and only promotion place will not be won or lost this weekend.

“I don't think it's the be all and end all,” he said. “There is a lot of rugby to be played between now and the end of the season.

“There are a lot of very good teams that we and Hull have to play but obviously there is the bragging rights from this match and whoever wins it will put them in the driving seat to go through and win the league.”

Hull have won every match since Rotherham beat them 20-15 at Clifton Lane at the end of October.

Titans trailed 5-3 at half time and then 12-3 early in the second half before coming through to win with tries from Harry Newborn and Callum Bustin in a match that could easily have flipped the other way.

The 16-try top scorer Bustin won't be involved due to injury this weekend, a big miss alongside other injury casualties like second row Matt Smith and prop Charlie Capps.

However Titans' ability to close ranks and tough out wins in the most testing of circumstances has been borne out twice in the last fortnight and a repeat against Hull would be a massive psychological boost as the final stretch comes into view.

Rotherham's run-in is the most favourable of the top five.

Hull still have to play Fylde and Sedgley Park, who are just a couple of points behind the Titans. Sedgley also have to play Fylde.

In comparison, the bulk of Rotherham's remaining fixtures are against teams in the bottom half.

That's partly why Hull, guided by director of rugby Gary Pearce, will want to capitalise on home advantage.

They weren't on top form when getting past bottom side Harrogate 27-10 last weekend but still ran in five tries. Keane Naylor scored two to take his season's tally to 12 and winger Michael Adlard is one of the most prolific operators in the section with 17.

Titans can count on a good travelling support and the team would love to repay the supporters with a win.

Added Byron: “It is a challenge we are up for and we are all very much looking forward to it.

“We want to go away from home, put a good performance in, come away with the right result and see where that puts us.

“We're taking it one week at a time. It's just that this week we have the top of the league.”