Sam Burgess expects Hull FC's best against Warrington Wolves

And having already recorded two convincing home victories over the Black and Whites this season, he insists facing them at this latest stage of their rebuild will see them tested more sternly.

The Wire are aiming to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions when they visit the MKM Stadium – a run that pales into insignificance when compared to the run their hosts had been on.

They had lost 11 matches in a row in all competitions before finally recording their second victory of the campaign last time out by beating Leeds Rhinos 18-10.

Both matches between the two at The Halliwell Jones Stadium will probably be remembered for the wrong reasons, with Warrington’s 36-10 Round Two win marred by the highly controversial sending-off of Hull’s Nu Brown following an accidental clash of heads with Ben Currie.

The highly-controversial sending-off of Hull's Nu Brown marred the Round Two fixture between the sides (Image: SWPix.com)

Then, Wire’s 24-6 win in putrid conditions in Round 10 came despite them being docked an interchange for a discrepancy in their squad selection, which prompted a furious reaction from Burgess including a post-match altercation with former Wolves scrum-half and current Hull director of rugby Richie Myler.

Above all, then, Burgess is hoping the third meeting between the two can be remembered for the right reasons.

“It’s looking dry for the weekend so hopefully we’ll see some free-flowing rugby but we’re expecting a physical game,” he said.

“It’s a great stadium – I’ve played there numerous times and the players love it so hopefully we’ll have a good atmosphere.

“We’ve seen them in three different stages of their year. At the start, the conditions were poor and the rules with Nu Brown’s send-off took that contest away.

“Then they had a few players back for the next game again in poor conditions – I think it was Jake Trueman’s first game back.

“Now, the majority of their team is back available and they’ve brought a few new faces in that have added some energy.

“I think we’ll see the best of them on Saturday. I thought they were energetic and played hard for each other against Leeds, so we’re expecting a tough contest.”

Hull FC ended an 11-match losing run by beating Leeds Rhinos last time out (Image: SWPix.com)

One of the new faces Burgess references is towering back-rower Jed Cartwright, who is in contention to make his Black and Whites debut having signed from Newcastle Knights.

The 27-year-old Australian – the son of incoming Hull coach John Cartwright, who will take over next year – had a spell at South Sydney Rabbitohs, during which he worked under Burgess during the Wire boss’s time as an assistant coach at Redfern.

If he does make his Super League bow on Saturday, Burgess admits his side will “have their hands full” with Cartwright.

“He's a great lad, Jed,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time with him at Souths and obviously his Dad is taking over as head coach next year.

“He’s a big body – I don’t know if he’ll play this week but if he does, we’ll have our hands full with him.

“He’s very tall – I think he’s 6ft6 – and he moves quite well, so he’s a good player and we’ll have to get our job done on him.”