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Dons old boy lying in wait
DONCASTER Dons will need to tame the 'Tiger' to return to winning ways in their Co-operative Championship clash against Batley at Featherstone tomorrow (3pm).
Scrum-half Paul 'Tiger' Handforth, is one of eight players to have left the cash-strapped Dons in recent weeks and his arrival at Batley has co-incided with a Bulldogs' revival.
"They aren't a one-man team but Paul did well while he was with us and is a good player and will obviously need watching," said Dons head coach Tony Miller.
"They have had a couple of good wins of late and they also ran Toulouse close in France last time out, so we know it is going to be a difficult game - not least because we've had to draft in several new players to replace those who have left and we haven't had much time to integrate them into the squad.
"Because we found it hard to bring experienced players in after going into administration, we've had to go for some untried players.
"But I've seen them play, and I've also had good reports on them, so I'm sure that they will acquit themselves well."
Although most pundits have written off the Dons' chances of avoiding the drop after being docked points for going into administration, Miller says he will continue to cling to the hope that they can stay up until such time as it becomes mathematically impossible to do so.
"We know that the odds are stacked against us and that we need to start picking up some wins, preferably starting tomorrow, " said Miller. "The next month will decide our fate.
"It doesn't help having to play successive home games at Featherstone as a result of the Keepmoat Stadium being unavailable due to renovation work on the pitch, but we've just got to get on with it and make the best of the situation.
"Hopefully the fans will travel over to Post Office Road in their numbers and get behind the lads."
In addition to the new recruits, the Dons will have utility-back Shaun Leaf back after a lengthy lay-off with a groin problem, and prop Matt Carbutt is available again.
Prop/second-rower Craig Lawton could also feature for the first time this season.
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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Temperature: 11 C to 21 C
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