Safety first is the O'Driscoll way as Doncaster close gap at top

Rovers are now 10th in the Championship table and have never been higher in their 131-year history.

Significantly, they also have two games in hand over the next three clubs – Middlesbrough, Blackpool and Sheffield United – and victories in those games could lift the club to seventh in the Championship.

After watching his side complete a first-ever league double over big city neighbours Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday night, O' Driscoll maintained his view that 'survival' is still the only priority this season.

"We are determined to stay in this division, that is our main motivation, and that result moved us a step closer," he said. "When we play well and get beat, we have to lift the players' confidence. When we play really well and win, we have to make sure they don't get complacent.

"We try to get the best out of the players we have got," he added. "We also try to take results out of the equation so everything is about 'can you do the right things at the right time?' Everything we do is about 'performance'."

O'Driscoll has already re-written the record books by leading Rovers to Wembley and the Millennium Stadium during his three-and-a-half-year reign as manager and, two summers ago, secured the promotion that ended the club's 50-year absence from the second tier of English football.

The club's attractive style of football has also won many admirers – including Wednesday manager Alan Irvine.

While Irvine's team are still locked firmly in a battle against relegation to League One, Irvine thinks that play-off qualification is not out of the question for Rovers.

Speaking after his side's 2-0 defeat to Rovers at Hillsborough, Irvine said: "Their style of football is the kind of football that I like watching. They are a good team and Sean's done a really good job.

"If it was all down to the style of football, they would certainly be one of the contenders – but it is a very difficult division," he added. "However, if they maintain this kind of form, they have a chance of getting enough points to make the play-offs but they are behind quite a lot of teams who will also think they can get there too."

Ironically, Rovers could do the Owls a favour this weekend by winning at Queens Park Rangers, who are also involved in the relegation scrap. The Owls, meanwhile, host another club who are fighting for their lives in the shape of Ipswich Town.

Goalkeeper Lee Grant is confident that the Owls will bounce back against the Tractor Boys after suffering the first real disappointment since Irvine's appointment as manager.

The Owls have won five games out of eight under the former Preston North End manager and have moved two points clear of the relegation zone. However, Crystal Palace, Ipswich and Reading still have games in hand which, if won, could drag the Owls back into the bottom three.

"It is a blow to lose any game – especially when you are in our position – but the important thing is now to bounce back on Saturday," said Grant. "Every game is getting bigger because all the teams down at the bottom are playing really well.

"We are in the very early stages of development under the new manager but if we can continue to progress as we have been, we won't have problems," he added.

Rovers defender Elliott Ward revealed he nearly missed his debut after his car broke down on his way from the Midlands.

"It all moved very quickly but I was a bit late because my car broke down," he said. "Now I am here I just want to play football."