Opportunity knocks again for Rovers in bid to secure title

Daryl Powell's side missed out when they suffered a surprise 32-30 home loss against Sheffield Eagles last week meaning they head to Mount Pleasant still requiring a point to make sure.

The Rovers chief believes the reverse – only their second of the season – could leave his squad in good stead for the main aim of reaching the Grand Final.

"We're disappointed but you learn a fair bit from defeats," said the ex-Great Britain international.

"We're going into a crucial period and it will give us a bit of a kick up the backside. We'll get plenty out of it."

Batley coach Karl Harrison will be hoping former Featherstone stand-off Paul Handforth recovers from a dead leg to bolster the Northern Rail Cup winners' hopes of securing a play-off spot themselves.

Already-relegated Keighley venture to Barrow this evening strengthened by news captain James Feather, prop Andy Shickell, Ryan Benjafield and Jamaine Wray have all agreed to stay and try to secure immediate promotion back into the Championship.

Sheffield bid to follow up their success over leaders Featherstone with a similar shock when second-placed Halifax arrive at Bramall Lane tomorrow, while Dewsbury have been warned not to relax at Whitehaven even though they have now secured their Championship status.

Doncaster head to South Wales Scorpions hoping to eventually nudge their opponents out of the Championship One play-off spots while York City Knights hope to dent Oldham's pursuit of leaders Hunslet.