Howells wary of Rotherham spoiling Knights’ play-off bid

Doncaster head into the fifth South Yorkshire derby of the season in a strong position to qualify for the Championship promotion play-off semi-finals thanks to their narrow win at Bedford last week.

Rotherham have nothing to play for other than local pride, having lost all four of their opening six games, including a heavy defeat at Castle Park three weeks ago.

“The difficult thing for us is that where other teams might be getting a free game against a team with no wins, because it’s a local derby it’s by no means an easy game for us,” said Howells.

“It’s a one-off game, and it would be fabulous to come back to Castle Park needing another win against Cornish Pirates to make the semi-finals. But right now the one thing we are focused on is Rotherham.

“It’s an opportunity for us to get into a semi-final, and the boys have given themsleves that opportunity.

“When we look back on it we’ll probably say we should have got a bonus point at Pirates and that we should have beaten Bedford at Castle Park. That would have put us in a totally different position.

“At this stage of the season it’s about how you take your opportunities.

“And we have given ourselves a chance against Rotherham.

“It will be difficult because they showed against Pirates that they’re capable of playing the better sides on their ground and hurting them.

“We will have to play our best rugby.”

Howells has problems in the second row with Glen Kenworthy (ligaments) and Matt Challinor (thumb) both out.

Dominic Parsons, who this week signed a contract for next season, will come in alongside Leeds Carnegie’s dual-registered lock James Craig.

Rotherham will be without Argentinian playmaker Juan Pablo Socino who has signed a two-year contract with the Titans’ Championship rivals Nottingham.

Socino only arrived in English rugby at the start of the season but has attracted interest from a host of clubs including Leicester and Sale.

With head coach Bester focusing on next season, Socino is likely to start on the bench today.

Bester said: “It’s disappointing that Juan has chosen to go but there’s nothing we can do about that.

“We will probably assess others in his usual position against Doncaster, although we are determined to end our home programme with a win.”

Rotherham have signed 6ft 4ins Tongan forward Talite Vaioleti, who has previously played for Yorkshire rivals Wharfedale, for next season.

Wharfedale face a big week in their battle against the drop from National One as they visit fifth-placed Blackheath today before entertaining Sedgley Park on Tuesday night (7.30pm).

Sedgley are one place above the fourth-bottom Greens on the same number of points, with the pair having a six-point cushion on the bottom three.

Hoping they trip up this afternoon are their North Yorkshire rivals Otley, who are second bottom and 11 points adrift of Wharfedale and safety, having played two games more.

Nothing less than a victory will do for Gary Walker’s men today against high-flying Cambridge.