Rovers will be hoping to resume where they left off before last week’s break against City whose record at the New Friarage is not a good one. City have, however, pulled off the occasional win and so the Whites will have to be on their game.

Last time out Rovers won 27-25 at Gateshead in what was a very good all-round team display and in their last match on home turf the Friaragemen demolished Sunderland with nine tries in a 53-12 win.

After a slow start to the season, the backs have been in great try-scoring form lately with Liam Austwicke and Adam Smith standing out. Despite pitch conditions likely to be heavy after this week’s rain, Rovers will expect to take the game to City and look to keep their try-scoring form going.

City are just below the White Shirts in the table and the hosts will want a win to keep hold of their fourth place in the table with the teams around them having winnable games.

Andrew Flounders and Michael Tucker prop down either side of Kevin Maguire after missing the trip to Gateshead. Andrew Pinchen moves back to the second row with Matty Wilson coming in at blindside. Callum Whitehead is at number 8 with James Evens, Glen Wise and Tyrone Church on the bench.

Rovers: Austwicke, Grand, Gunn, Coulson (c), Smith, Fawcett, S Barnfield, A Flounders, Maguire, Tucker, Baxter, Pinchen, Wilson, Maddison, Whitehead. Subs: Evens, Wise, Church