Kyle Kesik: Doncaster RLFC need to be on-song for York City Knights clash

Although Kesik lost the captaincy following the arrival of prop Ryan Boyle during the close season, he continues to lead the post-match victory celebrations and remains a key figure at the club.

“Kyle is such a competitor,” said assistant coach Pete Green. “He always gives everything he has got irrespective of how the game is going or where we are in the league.

“As a player he is someone you want alongside you when you are in a tough game because you know he’s got your back.

“He and (the currently injured) Kieran Cross compliment each other very well and both bring something different to the team.

“It’s the same when he plays with (dual-registered) Jez Litten because he and Kieran are similar players and both are really sharp and dynamic from dummy half whereas Kezie goes out and helps lay a platform in the first 20 minutes or so. He likes the physical stuff.

“All three of them can score tries.”

Having seen the Dons get back to winning ways at Hemel at the weekend, Kesik is keen to build on that result in what could be a key month for the club.

“We’ve got to play three of the teams currently above us who have already beaten us this season starting with York and I’m looking forward to it,” he said. “It’s a derby game and there should be a good atmosphere.

“We want to be in the top five at least and going into the Hemel game at the weekend in ninth place wasn’t good enough for the quality of players that we’ve got at the club.

“It’s not just about finishing in the top five: we want to finish as high as we can because ideally you don’t want to be playing away against the team who finished second or third in the play-off semi-finals.

“To be in with a chance of challenging for a top three spot we’ve got to be beating the likes of York, Hunslet and Oldham and other teams around us.

“We don’t want be in League One next year but it doesn’t get any easier trying to get out of it. I think the league is getting tougher every season.”