Griffiths challenges his Knights to deliver

The Knights have made a habit of running teams close since reclaiming their place in the second tier this season, only for individual errors to deny them priceless victories.

Last Sunday’s defeat to Yorkshire rivals Rotherham Titans was a case in point, with Doncaster the equals of the Titans in many areas before ‘gifting’ their visitors points and ultimately the victory, in Griffiths’s eyes.

Due to a knack for being the architects of their own downfall, Doncaster have lost their last half-dozen games in the league and sit second bottom, despite winning six games out of six in the British and Irish Cup.

“Those boys know what they’ve got to do,” said Griffiths in a warning to his squad. “They know who they are – and they need a big game this week.

“We need to start winning games. We need three or four more to avoid relegation.”

Reading between the lines, Griffiths’s loyalty to those who got the club back into the Championship extends only so far.

They have a dual-registration deal with Leicester Tigers that can be utilised at any time and Griffiths has never been afraid to dip into the transfer market to strengthen his options.

Doncaster have already won at Bedford this season, a 17-15 victory over the Blues in the B&I Cup in November, since when the Goldington Road outfit have won three of their last four including last time out against Moseley in the Championship. “We can definitely take something from that win,” said Griffiths, “particularly in the way we toughed it out.”

Richard List returns to the bench after a one-match ban, in the only change made to the Knights squad.