Cornish Pirates v Doncaster Knights: Knights aim to reclaim third spot at Mennaye Field

The Castle Park club have lost just one league game since the turn of the year and have the incentive of going at least two points clear of Ealing – who are not in action this weekend having played a game more - in third place with just two games to go if they can avenge a home defeat by the Pirates back in November.

Sixth-placed Pirates have lost their last two since winning away at second-placed Yorkshire Carnegie and their once bright play-off hopes could be scuppered by Knights this weekend.

“I’m not reading too much into their last two league defeats,” said forwards coach Glen Kenworthy. “Jersey have a strong forward pack and London Irish are unbeaten this season.

“They’ve got a strong squad and are well coached by Alan Paver and Gavin Cattle, two former players, and they’ll be up for the game which I’m sure they’ll see as a must-win game.

“But our form on the road has been very good since Christmas and we’ll travel down there today feeling confident.

“Hopefully Mother Nature has been on our side this week and the pitch won’t be as heavy as it sometimes has been in the past.

“We’ve got the players to play a tight game if the conditions dictate that’s the best game to play on the day, but we are a stronger side when we play a 15-man game because we’ve shown that we can attack from anywhere on the field including our own 22.”