Match PreviewDoncaster Rugby League Club are to face Featherstone Rovers in this Thursday's Premier Sports live game. This Kingstone Press Championship round 11 game has a 7:30pm kick-off at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Dons' head coach Tony Miller will check on the fitness of prop Brett Waller (ankle) before naming his seventeen. However, the blue and gold's will definitely be without scrum half Craig Fawcett (work commitments), while prop Matt Carbutt (knee ligament) is given only a 50/50 chance of making his comeback.
Miller is set to welcome back a number of dual registration and loan players for this mouth-watering Championship game. Danny Cowling, Kyle Trout and Matt Wildie of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats are all in contention to feature along with John Johnson and Ben Blackmore who are currently on loan at the Keepmoat from Huddersfield Giants.
Miller's men started the season well by picking up two wins from their first three games but a run of six successive defeats has seen them fall to 13th in the table - nine places below Featherstone who have been the most consistent team in the Championship during recent times.
However, the Dons returned to winning ways at South Wales last weekend with a comfortable 52-22 victory over the Scorpions in the third round of the Tetley's Challenge Cup. Doncaster will now travel to Widnes in the fourth round on Friday 19th April (8:00pm kick-off).
Miller said: "We played a lot of good stuff against South Wales on Saturday and scored some good tries in the process. I was pleased with the way we played.
"It was important to get the win and we now need to build on this and try to gain some momentum in the league.
"Thursday night's game is going to be another tough one but we're all looking forward to the challenge. Featherstone are a quality team with many gifted players who will make it difficult for us.
"There's an important three points up for grabs and we'll be hard to beat if we play to our potential for the full 80 minutes."
Rovers' head coach Daryl Powell will also be keen to see improvement in his side, having lost two of their last three league fixtures against Sheffield Eagles (18-26) and York City Knights (16-24).
Featherstone cruised in to the fourth round of the Challenge Cup with a 76-6 demolition of amateur club Thatto Heath last Sunday and beat Swinton 38-18 in their last outing in the Championship on Easter Monday.
Featherstone pair Ian Hardman and Anthony England both face late fitness tests, while the visitors travel without former Dons half back Kyle Briggs (knee). Winger Tom Hodson will face his old team mates for the first time since joining Featherstone at the end of last season.
Don't forget to pick up a copy of the club's new 40 page match day magazine, #COYD, to be in with a chance of winning a family day out at Doncaster Dome and we've frozen the price at just £2.
This week's player profile is the in-form Chris Spurr and there's a great piece by Gareth Walker of the League Express who writes about the demands of the Championship players who juggle part-time rugby around their full-time work commitments.
If you miss it, you're missing out. Come on you Dons!
Match Day Sponsors:Main match sponsor:
Beaumont's Insurance, Associate match sponsor:
Red7Marine The club would like to thank our sponsors for their kind and continued support.
Previous Five Meetings:4th February 2011: Featherstone Rovers win 54-10 at Big Fellas Stadium
16th August 2009: Featherstone Rovers win 56-10 at Keepmoat Stadium
17th May 2009: Featherstone Rovers win 68-12 at Chris Moyles Stadium
15th February 2009: Featherstone Rovers win 32-6 at Keepmoat Stadium
18th March 2007: Match drawn 18-18 at Keepmoat Stadium
Match Day Admission:Polite notice: please purchase your match day ticket from the stadium's ticket office before entering the turnstiles.
Adults £15, concessions £12, juniors (5-16) £3 and under 5's go free. Call the ticket office on 01302 762576 if you require more information.
Referee:M Thomason
