Kingstone Press Championship Preview: Doncaster v Sheffield Eagles

Doncaster player-coach Paul Cooke looks set to return to action after illness ruled him out of last week’s defeat against Keighley Cougars.

Cooke, who will also check on the fitness of Mike Kelly ahead of Sunday’s south Yorkshire derby against Sheffield Eagles, is expecting a big reaction from his squad.

Cooke said: “After last week’s disappointment, there shouldn’t be too much needed in the way of motivational speeches.

“It’s about us just being smart and doing the small things that win these kind of games. When there’s raw emotion involved, it’s the calmest and smartest team that wins the game.”

He added: “It’s a big game for us. We’ve got to be better than last week, and if we’re not then we’re not going to win any more games.

“We’ve got to come up with some answers this week.”

Richard Wilkinson (knee) is expected to miss out for Doncaster, while Sheffield coach Mark Aston is contemplating more changes after his side’s 28-18 defeat against Batley Bulldogs.

Aston said: “We have a group of people who aren’t delivering and won’t respect what we (the coaches) want to deliver.”