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Titans told to make home games count
As Rotherham Titans prepare to confront one of the stronger sides in the Championship, Cornish Pirates, skipper and fly-half Michael Whitehead has urged his players to take full advantage of playing at Clifton Lane.
"When we are on our own pitch, we find it easier to deal with the opposition's power, but we struggle away," he said.
"It's very important tomorrow that we pick up four points, and we have the potential in our squad to be doing a lot better.
"I think we have underachieved so far. The players Craig West has brought in have stepped up and done well. There are good players here and we have the ability to move up the table.
Going into the clash against the Pirates, Rotherham can take some encouragement from their first-half performance last Saturday against Exeter Chiefs, the Championship leaders.
However, the Pirates coaching team will have noticed that the Titans collapsed in the second half and conceded more than 30 points - a repeat of that tomorrow at Clifton Lane and Rotherham will suffer a fourth consecutive defeat.
With no major injury concerns, the Rotherham side will be pretty much the same as appeared at Sandy Park, although there is some doubt over the fitness of flanker Adam Kleeberger who has ankle trouble.
The departure from the club of assistant coach John Stankevitch, the former St Helens rugby league star who is joining Rochdale Hornets as coach, has been a major issue at Clifton Lane this week.
The question now is, will he be replaced and, if so, by whom?
Rotherham's coaching staff is not as strong or as numerous as at competing clubs.
Any weaknesses surely need to be addressed as a major priority because West cannot cope alone.
Last season's forwards' coach, Colin Noon, has disappeared for family and business reasons and now Stankevitch has gone.
The employment of skilled and knowledgeable coaches will have to wait until after tomorrow's game.
Whitehead added: "I've been keeping an eye on the Pirates' results and they are an impressive side. They are starting to fulfil their potential."
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Weather for Sheffield
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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