Doncaster Rovers boss Grant McCann previews Stevenage test + 'monster' defender he knows well

The Hertfordshire side are the final visitors to the Eco-Power Stadium this season (Saturday, 12.30pm) and will be looking to seal a win that would go a long way to confirming their top-six spot. Not many would have given Stevenage a chance of upsetting the odds but their physical prowess, especially from set-pieces, and defensive solidity has them on the cusp of qualifying for the League One play-offs for the second time in their history.

"Alex has done a fantastic job to have them anywhere near the play-off picture, Rovers chief McCann said ahead of Saturday's contest. "It's certainly something we'd love to do, getting ourselves up in that promotion picture next year.

"Defensively they're really good and they don't give up many chances at all. They don't give up a lot and Carl Piergianni is someone I know well. He was a young centre-back at Peterborough when I was there, as a player. I know him well and he's a monster in this division at set-plays, both for and against.

"And obviously Charlie Goode got in the team of the year (at EFL Awards) so Alex has done a fantastic job and has recruited smartly for their style of play and they've been really hard to beat."

Whilst Rovers cannot go up or down, there is still uncertainty over where in the table they'll finish with possible positions ranging from tenth all the way down to 20th. McCann added: "It's better to have a game where there's something on it. It keeps our boys more focused knowing they have to be at it rather than two mid-table teams playing. It adds a bit of excitement to the game."

Veteran Billy Sharp, who announced this week that he'll be leaving Rovers at the end of the season, returns to availability after missing more than a month of action with a calf injury.