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Debut day!
DONCASTER RLFC head coach Tony Miller is poised to field four debutants when the embattled club face Sheffield Eagles at Featherstone tomorrow.
Loughborough University's Chris McNamara and Richard Tufa, a rugby union convert, are both expected to face Mark Aston's side while Tim Scire and Brooke Broughton have joined from Leeds Rhinos Academy.
The new arrivals have eased the pressure on Miller who has seen Doncaster's well-documented financial problems wreak havoc with his efforts to assemble a winning team.
Despite masteminding April's 23-22 victory in the corresponding fixture at Don Valley Stadium, he is under no illusions about the size of the task facing his players.
"We know this is going to be a tough battle," Miller told The Star.
"A repeat performance would be brilliant but we know that Sheffield are going to be desperate for revenge.
"All I'm asking of my lads - all I ever ask of them - is that they give absolutely everything.
"Then we'll see what happens."
The Co-Operative Champ-ionship fixture is being staged at Post Office Road (3pm) because the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster's home ground, is unavailable due to re-surfacing work.
Miller added: "It's great that we've been able to bring these lads in.
"Normally I like to do my homework a lot more on signings but we're confident they can do well.
"We've lost something like 11 players since that derby (against Eagles)."
One of those - hooker Craig Cook - was drafted in by the Eagles for a second spell after Andy Boothroyd, their regular number nine, was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign.
"Craig wants another chance and is ready to fight for a place and play reserve-grade if he has to," Aston said. "He wants to show us that he has sorted out his fitness and got his mind on the job.
"There's no doubt about his ability and I'm delighted to bring him back to the club after having lost Andy Boothroyd through work commitments.
"We can expect that Craig will want to impress and fetch something to the party and if he does that he'll be a useful signing."
Cook joins a pack that includes Peter Green and Michael Haley who have also made the switch from Doncaster.
Meanwhile Barrie McDer-mott, Rhinos' head of youth development, believes Brou-ghton and Scire will benefit from their experiences in South Yorkshire.
"This is a great opportunity for Brooke and Tim to play in open-age rugby," he said. "It will aid their development and I am sure they will return to the club better players for it."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
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Temperature: 10 C to 22 C
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