CENTRE-BACK Adam Lock-wood is hoping that he did enough against Sheffield United to retain his place in Doncaster Rovers' side to visit Oakwell tomorrow.
Lockwood made his first start as manager Sean O'Driscoll decided to rest 20 year-old Sam Hird.
A regular in his first two years at the club, Lockwood made an impressive return to the side and was dominant in the air.
His display will certainly have given O'Driscoll a selection headache.
"It was good to be back in the side - though we didn't get the win I had been hoping for," said the modest defender who captained the side for much of last season.
"It could have been all over at the interval because we had three or four good chances. But they aren't going in for us - which has been the case for much of the season.
"We were unlucky with the first goal and it was a test of character for us after that - especially with the way that things have been going.
"It has been a frustrating start to the season for me; it always is when you are out injured.
"With the lads in the team having played well I've had to wait for my chance.
"Hopefully I did enough to keep my place for the Barnsley game, but it is for others to say how I played, not me."
The defeat against the Blades saw Rovers drop into the bottom three.
"It is early days and we aren't thinking of relegation," said the Wakefield-born defender who was signed from Yeovil.
"All we are concentrating on at the moment is the next game.
"Obviously things aren't going as well as we would have liked right now. Every week presents us with a fresh challenge and we are going to have to work hard, which we are doing, to meet those challenges.
"But I'm confident we have enough quality in the squad to do that.
"We'll be going to Oakwell hoping to pick up three points.
"We've done well against them in recent years but that will count for nothing; it will be all on the day.
"They are down there with us so they will be just as desperate for the three points as we are."
If O'Driscoll does recall Hird it will be the first time that he will have come face to face with Darren Moore on a football pitch in 13 years.
The last time was in the 1995-96 season when Doncaster-born Hird was a Rovers' mascot and the pre-match picture taken with Moore, appeared on the front page of the programme for the next home game against Hereford.
Moore, who cost the club £62,500 signing from Torquay, spent two years at Belle Vue before moving to Bradford City for a £300,000 plus fee two years later.
Moore helped the Bantams win promotion to the top flight in 1999.
He also played for Portsmouth, West Bromwich and Derby before returning to South Yorkshire in the summer.
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