SEAN Long is relishing the opportunity to play in the biggest derby of them all at the KC Stadium on Saturday.

After missing the last derby with a dislocated elbow, Long felt his chance had gone this year to experience the white-hot atmosphere a derby encounter brings.

Watching from his seat as Hull FC maintained the bragging rights, Long says he was gutted not to have been involved in the 20-16 victory.

But with the opportunity now his as the two meet in the do-or-die derby with each side's season on the line, Long is delighted to be given his chance to make his own piece of derby history.

"To witness the last game was unbelievable, so for me to get another chance to play in a derby at the KC is great and something I am very excited about," Long told the Mail.

"Myself, Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley were sitting together watching the last derby and we were up and out of our seats throughout the game, desperate for us to win and desperate to be involved too.

"I'm delighted I get a chance to play in this game and I can't wait for it."

Hull will have the three marquee names of Long, Fitzgibbon and O'Meley on their teamsheet.

And having beaten Rovers without the trio earlier in the year, the Black and Whites are confident of a repeat result now their key men are fit.

The build-up to Hull's final regular season game against Leeds was dominated by talk of Long's return alongside half-back partner Richard Horne.

But it was the scrum-half's link-up play with Fitzgibbon which caught the eye and brought Danny Washbrook his well-taken try.

According to Long the two, who have become close friends off the field, are now bouncing ideas off each other.

Long added: "Fitzy needs someone to put him in the holes because he runs a good line and I need someone to run a good line off me, so we bounce off each other.

"I'm glad Fitzy is playing and he's glad I am back too. We are forming a good partnership. It is vital we have some experienced players out there stepping up and Fitzy as well as Mark O'Meley are two of those who can do that for us.

"I'm lucky that while I am the captain I get a load of help from the experienced guys like those two, Richard Horne and Lee Radford when he is playing for example and they'll all have key roles to play."