Doncaster Knights v Ealing Trailfinders: Team news and build-up to Castle Park clash

Doncaster Knights' goal-kicking fly-half Kurt Morath is expected to return to action in Saturday's testing Championship clash against Ealing Trailfinders at Castle Park (2.30pm).
Mat ClarkMat Clark
Mat Clark

Morath, who joined the club last month, missed the win over Richmond at the weekend as a result of the HIA ruling but resumed training on Tuesday and will come into contention for selection today.

Centre Mat Clark, who suffered a head injury in training earlier in the month, is also likely to be considered after resuming training yesterday.

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The game will see back-rower Willie Ryan, a summer signing from Ealing, lining up against his former team-mates.

'I'm sure that he will be looking for a big game on Saturday,' said head coach Glen Kenworthy.

'He's already been helpful in the build-up, knowing how their coaches work down there he's been able to give us a bit of inside information.'

Looking ahead to the game, Kenworthy said: 'I think a lot of people have probably written off our chances to be honest so the pressure is off the boys in some ways.

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'They've brought quite a few players in during the summer so it could be a good time to play them.

'I'm pretty sure though that the new players have now settled in and they'll get stronger and stronger.

'They've got a very dangerous back-row with the likes of Jordie Reid, captain Rayn Smid and Andrew Duratalo. They've got a pair of good centres as well and they've got a lot of strength in depth throughout the side.

'But I've watched their games against London Irish and London Scottish and they are leaking points at the moment and  I'm confident that we'll get opportunities to score and we've just got to make sure that we take them.

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'We've certainly got to be more clinical than we were in the win at Richmond at the weekend and that's something we've looked to address in training this week.

'We've enjoyed the build-up this week and we want to go into the game firing on all cylinders and try and put them in a position they haven't been in since they played London Irish in their opener.

'They've made a really fast start in their last couple of games and we'll need to nullify that. If we can restrict them to one score (at most) during the first 20 minutes or so and put some pressure on them you never know what can happen on the day.'

Kenworthy will again be in charge on the day while director of rugby Clive Griffiths recovers from a heart attack.

But he says he expects the Welshman to be back on board '˜sooner rather than later' following a positive meeting with his consultant this week.