Depth of Knights’ squad to be tested

Doncaster Knights aim to continue their impressive form against Nottingham when they meet in the Championship tonight.

The South Yorkshire club head to Meadow Lane having won the last seven matches against their rivals, a run that has lasted almost four years.

However, Doncaster have lost a quartet of leading players – Ben Hunter, Colin Quigley, Morgan Eames and Paul Jarvis – to injury so their squad strength will be tested.

Mat Clark and Joe Sprotson make their first starts of the season as Knights bid to bounce back from Saturday’s home loss against Ealing Trailfinders.

Yorkshire Carnegie – who lost to Nottingham at Emerald Headingley on Sunday – are also in action tonight, at bottomplaced Jersey.

It is a crucial game for Chris Stirling’s side given they have won just once in their opening four contests.

He makes five changes with full-back Louis Brown making his first appearance of the season after shoulder surgery.

Chris Elder switches to the wing and Dan Moor goes to the bench with JB Bruzulier returning at scrum-half in place of Oli Fox.

Up front James Thraves starts at loosehead prop with Rowan Jenkins coming off the bench.

Charlie Gibbings rotates with Dylan Donnellan at hooker while back-row Josh Bainbridge has recovered from illness to resume his place.

That sees Trystan Lloyd drop to the bench as Carnegie look for those missing ingredients.