Pivotal

This week could yet take Hull City to the cusp of Premier League survival, not to mention the quarter finals of the FA Cup, or it could leave us in serious bother and disillusioned at exiting the Cup to a lower division side.

The KC Stadium hosts three matches in six days - Tottenham Hotspur tonight, then Sheffield United in the Cup replay on Thursday, and Blackburn Rovers at Sunday lunchtime.

Six points and progress to the sixth round would be perfect. Four points and progress would be excellent. Four points without progress would be acceptable, if a little tainted. Three points, with or without progress, would not be the end of the world. Anything else points-wise would be worrying, and at this point progress in the FA Cup would become a mere sideline.

The fact that the results of the weekend means the likely survival threshold is now down to around 37 points makes this week all the more of a tempter. Get it right and we are one win away from guaranteeing safety for another season, barring freaks. The incentive is right there before the team's very nose.