Preview: Connacht Eagles v Doncaster Knights - Griffiths could rest key men

Knights topped their pool for the first time last season en-route to the final.

They go into their penultimate Pool Five clash in Ireland against Connacht Eagles three points clear of second placed Jersey.

Director of rugby Clive Griffiths is likely to take the opportunity to rest several players.

But the fact that the team had no fixture last weekend could result in fewer changes in what he says is a ‘must-win’ game.

One man hoping to feature in Griffiths’ plans is fly-half Simon Humberstone who has yet to start a game after being injured in the club’s pre-season campaign.

The half-back has come off the bench in the last couple of games and Griffiths could well decide that tomorrow’s game is an ideal opportunity to give him a run-out.

“I can’t see the (Newport-Gwent) Dragons team we played beating Jersey at St Peter,” he said.

“Unless conditions are as bad as when we played them a couple of weeks ago, I can see Jersey picking up five points.

“That would mean that we would have to beat both Connacht tomorrow and Jersey next week at Castle Park to retain top spot and claim a home draw in the quarter-finals.”

Knights posted a 22-5 win over Eagles when the two sides met at Castle Park in November and go into the match unbeaten in their last 11 league and cup games.