Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka has said that his team are ready for the challenge of facing in-form Hull City.

Both sides are flying high in the Championship ahead of their showdown at the KC Stadium, but Karanka has insisted that he is not treating the match any differently from their recent contests against Rotherham United and Charlton Athletic.

He told the club's official website: "It's a big game, but again it's another three points. For me they are just as important as the three points against Charlton or Rotherham last week.

"It's true Hull are an opponent who are fighting at the top with us but we have to go there thinking that it's just another game.

"It's an important one – they're a big team with a Premier League manager and players so it will be difficult, just as our last two were."

Middlesbrough are fourth in the Championship ahead of their clash against the Tigers.