Kingstone Press Championship Preview: Doncaster v Batley Bulldogs

Doncaster coach Paul Cooke has challenged his team to be “more desperate” than relegation-threatened Batley Bulldogs in Sunday’s Kingstone Press Championship showdown.

Cooke said: “What’s imperative for us is that we stay where we are in third place. The opportunity to finish second is out of our hands.

“Can Batley be more desperate to avoid relegation than we are to finish third? That’s the only question this weekend.

“I know how John Kear prepares his teams when their backs are against the wall, and there’s so much at stake this weekend. It’s two teams that have both got a lot to play for.

“We either drop to fourth if we lose, or we win and stay third – and possibly go second.”

Pasqualle Dunn (leg) is unlikely to feature for Doncaster, but Mike Kelly could be available following a recent foot problem.

Batley’s Ben Black looks set to keep his place at stand-off, having made a successful return to action last week.

Bulldogs coach John Kear said: “The equation now is a simple one – if we win, we stay up.

“If we lose we are relying on other people, so it’s a big, big game.”