Hull FC v Hull KR: Willie Peters challenges champions to run towards problems as pressure mounts
For four years, Hull has been red and white.
Hull KR have won nine of the 10 cross-city derbies contested during the Willie Peters era, suffering their only loss back in his maiden campaign.
But few meetings have carried the same significance as Thursday's clash with Hull FC at the MKM Stadium.
The champions find themselves outside the Super League play-off places after a fifth defeat in eight games, a damaging run of results that began with a Wembley drubbing by Wigan Warriors.
While he accepts Rovers are falling short of expectations, Peters insists there is plenty of life left in their title defence – provided they rediscover the lofty standards that took them to glory last year.
"Pressure is what you put on yourself," he said.
"For us at the moment, are we in a spot where we want to be? No. But are we in the worst position? No.
"Do we have upside? Yes. Is there hope that we can go north of the ladder? Yes. But it's more than hope – you've got to have the belief, togetherness and connection.
"I'm certainly not putting any internal pressure on. The only pressure I'll ever put on this team is playing a certain way and that's who we are. When you go away from that and are not consistent with who you are, that's when I start to ask some questions.
"You can try and avoid the external pressure but a lot of the time I agree with people's opinions because we're not the same team in terms of the way we look at the moment.
"Let's get back to being the same team and playing the way we know we can play. Let's see how we go off the back of that. I'm sure we'll put ourselves in a strong position."
As a club, the Robins win together and lose together.
But for Peters, just like any other season, their destiny is largely in the hands of the players.
"There's no doubt we're in a situation which is completely different to last year," he added. "But every year is different and brings new challenges.
"I always say that you need to look within first. That's what I do as a head coach.
"You need to understand and recognise what you're doing well and what you need to improve. Every individual has to do that in the organisation.
"But essentially players make coaches. The treble last year was won by the players. Of course we help and facilitate but good things happen when they have the right attitude. If they don't want to push themselves or make the sacrifices they made last year, that can impact how far you get.
"When you get through this challenging part to the other side as staff and as a team, you get so many good learnings from it.
"I certainly don't want the club to get learnings from falling short. If we give our best until the end of the year, I'm sure we'll be in a positive position."
A season of challenges that began with a World Club Challenge and a trip to Las Vegas in the opening month took another unwelcome twist this week when Mikey Lewis was handed a four-match ban.
But Peters is not about to hide behind a hard luck story.
"There are a lot of reasons why I believe we're in this situation," said the Australian, who has turned to Arthur Mourgue as Lewis' replacement. "But that doesn't help the next 10 weeks.
"You've got two options: either run towards it or say that you've had enough. This team, club and community, more importantly, aren't about that.
"When we've spoken about our DNA, it's being a team that runs towards problems and leans in together.
"The message to the team this week is: do it together."
For all their recent troubles, Rovers have made a habit of finding a way against Hull.
But Peters' finest memory of this fixture may still be to come.
"I hope it's tomorrow," he said during Wednesday's press conference.
"This is going to be my last derby. I've absolutely loved being part of them and it's something that I'll miss.
"But it's the perfect time for us to get this game because it will bring out the best in us, I believe. It means so much to so many different people.
"We've got an opportunity to put smiles on people's faces who love this club dearly. They're probably scratching their head wondering why we're performing the way we are – and rightly so.
"The biggest thing I've always said to the players is that our best and worst can't be too far away. At the moment, it is. We need to have a look about us that lets every KR fan know what they're going to get each week.
"This is the perfect game for us to be able to get ourselves back on track. I'm talking performance here. Yes we want to win the game but it's important we perform well."