With Sunday's other 4 fixtures involving the other 8 of the bottom 9 in the Championship and that guaranteeing that some of our rivals will pick up points, it would be useful if the Dons could get something from this fixture.

We have raised our game against some of the big teams in the Championship (it'll be a long time before the memory of Featherstone away starts to fade) so lets hope for a performance and hopefully a bonus point or better.

Don't forget it's a 2.00pm kick off.

Kyle Trout in Wakefield 19 v Leeds on Friday 19th July.

Tricky looking game , as you say the Dons have performed well against the top sides , so who knows. Be happy with a bonus point, obviously hope for more.

looking forward to my first away game since London and the grand final last season, I would be delighted with a bonus point and the way we have performed against the top 5 this season 3 bonus points and 1 win is way better than I thought we would do. A shame that we won't have Trout but i would bring Leafy back into the side for his defensive qualities. Liam Kay has had 2 storming games at half back so would keep him in there. hope Waller is available as they have some big forwards. COYD

Match Preview

Doncaster Rugby League Club are back on the road this weekend after three successive home games and travel to Batley Bulldogs at the Mount Pleasant Stadium (Please note earlier kick-off time of 2:00pm).

The Dons secured a much needed 30-26 win over Hunslet last weekend which has buoyed the blue and gold's as they look to climb the Kingstone Press Championship table. Tony Miller has eight games left as the Dons head coach and will be determined to make the top eight come September.

Paul Cooke, Kyle Kesik and Dennis Tuffour all made successful returns to action last weekend and are available for selection. Prop Brett Waller is available once again after missing out last week and back rower Mike Kelly also makes a welcome return from injury.

Wakefield's Danny Cowling and last week's man of the match Liam Kay are included in Miller's squad but Kyle Trout was recalled by the Wildcats and made a starting appearance against Leeds on Friday night.

Miller said: "We showed a lot of character to come back and we probably just deserved to win it against Hunslet last week.

"We got there in the end and more importantly, we got the three points that we needed.

"Looking ahead to Sunday's game, Batley will be smarting after their defeat last week so we're expecting a bit of a backlash as they'll want to make amends.

"They're a strong side and have some match winners in their ranks but we'll take heart from our narrow defeat back in March when we were level pegging until they snatched it in the last minute."

Batley Bulldogs head coach John Kear has promised a marked improvement in his side's defence after last week's 36-30 defeat against Whitehaven. The Bulldogs conceded six tries against the Cumbrians to leave Kear frustrated.

Kear said: "Our intensity dropped and we became loose and casual.

"Our defence wasn't good enough and that's something I'm annoyed about. (This week) they'll get back to defending how Batley can defend."

Kear is now hoping for more consistency from his entire team after a patchy performance against Whitehaven and added: "Dan Fleming was absolutely immense and caused problems every time he had the ball, but we had some who had absolute stinkers."

Last Five Meetings

10th March 2013: Batley Bulldogs win 24-18 at Keepmoat Stadium
19th July 2009: Batley Bulldogs win 56-12 at Mount Pleasant
21st June 2009: Batley Bulldogs win 70-6 at Keepmoat Stadium
12th August 2007: Batley Bulldogs win 26-12 at Mount Pleasant
3rd June 2007: Batley Bulldogs win 48-14 at Keepmoat Stadium

Match Day Admission

Adults £15, concessions £10, juniors £3

Referee

R Laughton

Who gives a toss about Batley.
And how the hell should they be so much better than the Dons?
A win for Batley.

Why no mention of Craig Fawcett is he injured or out of favour?

Exactly.
Out of favour I would guess.

Team

Butterfield

Tuffour
Dawson
Cowling
Sanderson

Kay
Cooke

Castle
Emmett
Carbutt

Spurr
Kelly

Edwards

reps
Waterman
Kesik
Waller
Spiers

Kicking up t' hill Half time Batley 6 v Doncaster 20.

I've never subscribed to playing down the hill being an advantage

COYD, prove me wrong ... again!