Doncaster Knights v Bristol: Knights ready for play-off final battle - Hills

Knights will go into battle against Bristol in the Sky-televised first leg of their Championship play-off final (7.45pm) in front of another big crowd at Armthorpe Road.

And Hills is expecting both teams to go ‘hammer and tong’ in pursuit of a place in the Aviva Premiership.

“I’ve not seen their squad yet but I suspect that they are going to come with a very big pack and will want to be physical with us,” said Hills, ahead of leading his hometown club into the biggest game in their history.

“If you look how they played in their semi-final against Bedford they were very direct and very physical and their pack got them over the gain-line very well and they recorded two big wins.

“I know they’ve got some quality backs but as in any game your pack has to get the team going forward before you can impose yourself.

“That’s what we’ve done most of the season and that’s what we’ll be aiming to do tonight.

“I think if you look at the two games against them this season – I know we ran away with it a bit at the end at Ashton Gate – they were both close.

“Tonight’s game, I believe, will be similar to the league game at Castle Park - which they won in the last minute - with both teams going at it hammer and tong.

“We know it’s a big game but we’ve not got to show any nerves. We have to be confident in the structures that Clive (Griffiths) and the rest of the coaching staff have put in place, put on a good performance and hopefully come up with the right result.”