Knights look to prevent Chiefs from running away with it

The Knights produced their most expansive effort in the vital win over Nottingham last week that left every team in Pool B standing on one win after two games.

The Chiefs are favourites to top the pool and advance to the two-legged play-off final for a place in the Guinness Premiership, but with the team that finishes second in the group also advancing to the play-off semi-finals, there is plenty for Lynn Howells's Doncaster to play for.

"It will require one of those performances that true players can pull out of the bag when it matters," the club's director of rugby said. "With the challenge of the play-offs, every single game you come across is one of those games."

Exeter were the top points scorers in the league stage of the Championship, amassing 699 points in 22 matches.

They won at Castle Park in the regular season and the two sides face each other again in Devon next weekend.

Unbeaten Rotherham will all-but secure their Championship status for next season if they can defeat the only other team with an unbeaten record in the relegation play-offs, Birmingham and Solihull.

The Bees did not win throughout the 22-match regular season and started the play-offs with a two-point penalty for fielding an unregistered player, but have gained victories in both their matches so far.

Rotherham have taken maximum points from two wins and another five-point haul today would make it highly unlikely that they will be overtaken by all three teams below them and dumped into the third tier.

Coventry are the side facing the trap door after two defeats, while Moseley are yet to register a win after seeing their convincing lead wiped out by a resurgent Rotherham last weekend.

Bees' director of rugby Russell Earnshaw said: "With so many ex-Rotherham players and coaches in our line-up, this will almost feel like a home game for many of the side.

"We understand the pride that the Rotherham players take in wearing their jersey. We also know they will be well supported, so they certainly won't be taking anything for granted and we intend to give them a tough game."

The match kicks-off at 3pm at Clifton Lane.