Rochdale v Doncaster RLFC: Dons without injured trio

Skipper Kyle Kesik, full-back Tom Carr and stand-off Jordan Howden will all miss the trip to second-placed Rochdale tomorrow and join the likes of forwards Matt Nicholson, Brad Foster and Mike Kelly on the sidelines.

“Kyle’s hamstring is sore and Tom suffered a dead leg while Jordan suffered a recurrence of the hip problem which saw him miss the start of the season,” said head coach Gary Thornton.

“It’s not ideal being without three key players against a strong Rochdale side but hopefully all three will be fit for the first play-off match in a fortnight’s time.

“Ryan Wright will come in for Kyle and winger Louis Sheriff, who we rested last week, will play either full-back or stand-off.

“Matty Welham is likely to come in and hopefully he will make the same sort of impact as did Aarron Jones-Bishop on his return to the side last week.”

Victory over Hemel Stags secured the Dons a top-four spot which ensured that four of their seven play-off games will be at home.

But defeat at Spotland, where Rochdale have dropped just one point, would see the second-placed Lancashire club open up a five-point gap on the Dons.

“With league points being carried forward into the play-offs it’d make our task of finishing in the top-two that more difficult,” said Thornton. “If we beat them we’d only be a point behind them.”