Naylor warns players of Doncaster threat

Oldham will go top of Betfred League 1 if they beat Doncaster at the Vestacare on Sunday and current leaders Whitehaven slip up at Keighley Cougars.

Scott Naylor has warned, however, that Roughyeds will need to play at least as well as they did last week in order to beat Donny for the first time this season and at the third time of asking.

He said his side's 31-0 defeat at the Keepmoat Stadium in June, following the previous week's 24-12 defeat by Doncaster at the Vestacare in the 1895 Cup, was "a day from hell".

Since then Doncaster have pushed out the boat to sign one of the best attacking players in world rugby, Rangi Chase, and to provide him with a pathway back into the game after a long-term drugs ban.

Added Naylor: "Having beaten us twice already they'll come with confidence and a determination to win so they can get as high as possible for play-off purposes.

"In many ways the game will be like last week's --- hugely important for both teams in the battle to finish as high up as we possibly can.

"On the 'day from hell' we kept doing everything wrong over and over again.

"We expect a close game, like last week's, and it will be equally as tough."

"Bringing in  player of unbelievable talent like Rangi Chase demonstrates the club's ambition and shows how much they want to do well in the play-offs.

"But it's not only Rangi Chase we have to be wary of. They have quality players all over the field and we'll have to play at least as well as we did last week if we are to get anything out of the game."

Roughyeds forward Jack Spencer, who missed the Newcastle game with a nerve problem in a hip, hopes to be available again for this one.

He didn't train on Tuesday night but he's feeling better and he will have another check-up on Thursday night.

The club's medical team are dealing with a few niggles but nothing, said Naylor,  that will keep anybody out of Sunday's massive game.

By Roger Halstead