Hull handed arch-rivals Hull KR an engage Super League lifeline with a win over Salford at the KC Stadium which also strengthened their own play-off aspirations.

A victory for Salford coach Shaun McRae over the club he served with distinction for five years would have seen his side leapfrog Rovers and leave the bottom spot they have occupied since April 15.

As it was, a superb eight-try showing from Hull cancelled out the Reds' match in hand and they now go into Friday's clash with Hull KR at The Willows knowing their top-flight fate may well depend upon the outcome.

Peter Sharp's Hull side have now won four games in a row - their best run of form this season.

After an underwhelming start to the campaign the 2006 Grand Finalists are now fourth and with scrum-half Mathew Head now fully fit for the run-in they could still justify their tag as potential title-winners.

Despite the return of McRae, Tom Saxton and Richie Barnett to the KC Stadium, Hull's welcoming reception ended with the kick-off and was confirmed after 25 minutes, by which time they had opened up a 26-0 lead.

Willie Manu was undoubtedly the star, scoring the first try - courtesy of a neat fifth-minute sidestep after Richard Horne's break - and set the tone by cutting the Salford defence apart at will.

Craig Hall then spurned a chance of a quick second try by throwing a loose pass after Manu had burst through, only for Horne to post a touchdown moments later after Thomas Lee broke clear.

With Salford reeling the home side quickly posted a third try, which was comfortably the score of the game.

Hall broke clear on the right and fed Graeme Horne, whose reverse pass sent Manu racing along the touchline.

After holding off two tackles, Manu fed the supporting Lee whose kick ahead was touched down by the on-rushing Hall.

Coupled with Horne's second try - after a Danny Tickle break - two minutes later and five goals from the latter the game was seemingly over as a contest with Matt Sing's ankle tap on Luke Robinson and subsequent block of Barnett the closest the visitors came.

But the Reds then mounted a mini-revival with three tries in a 10-minute period either side of the interval.

The first came after 35 minutes, when John Wilshere clung on to Saxton's speculative pass to cross, before Aaron Moule made McRae's half-time talk a little easier with a 38th-minute effort.

Salford - with their pack now on top - added a third try five minutes into the second half.

Robinson dabbed a kick in goal and as Richard Whiting delayed his attempt to clear, Moule snuck in for his second. The saving grace for the home side was Wilshere's failure to convert both tries.

The balance soon switched again, however, when Sing posted a fifth Hull try after an outstanding pass from Head that set Lee Radford racing clear. Tickle, as accurate as ever, added his sixth goal.

Radford then added a sixth try after a clever ball from Danny Houghton before more magic from Manu saw him step through a tackle and hand Hall the simplest touchdown.

As Sharp took the opportunity to withdraw Head and rotate his side, Luke Dorn and Simon Finnigan added two consolation tries for Salford, while Whiting scored Hull's eighth with 30 seconds remaining.