Video: Relaxion technique could help deliver title to Doncaster Rovers

The Rovers chief has candidly acknowledged that his intense approach with his players in pursuit of the title following Rovers’ clinching of promotion on April 8 has backfired, with his side heading into the sell-out match at Victoria Park on the back of a three-game losing streak which has dropped them to second place for the first time since January 3 behind new leaders Plymouth Argyle.

It means that the Pilgrims are in the box seat to secure silverware, with Rovers needing to win at Pools - themselves desperate for victory to maintain hopes of avoiding relegation to the National League - while requiring a big favour from Grimsby Town, who host Plymouth at Blundell Park to claim the championship.

Ferguson, who reports no fresh injuries ahead of Saturday’s encounter with Pools, said: “We have relaxed them a lot this week and taken out a bit of the intensity in training.

“Because we are in the last week of the season, regardless of what happens on Saturday, we have had a great season and wanted to make sure that the players enjoyed the last week of training.

“It has been a relaxing week.”

Rovers will be backed for a sell-out contingent of around 1,000 fans on Teesside.