DONCASTER did Town a favour this week - but Peter Jackson has no intention of repaying it tomorrow.

Rovers held Brentford to a goalless draw on Tuesday, helping Town stay second in League I going into the crunch Yorkshire derby (3.00).

Jackson, who watched the Belle Vue match three days ago, knows completing a double over Donny will keep his team in the automatic promotion zone.

And with leaders Southend visiting Colchester, who are fourth, and Barnsley (third) hosting Swansea (fifth), he also knows points are sure to be dropped by rival clubs in the leading pack.

The manager will have to make changes to the team which fought back for a 2-2 draw at Swansea last Friday.

Michael Collins, who started in midfield, is ruled out with a knee injury and Tom Clarke, who was on the bench, has turned an ankle, both problems being picked up in training.

At least Pav Abbott, Town's 13-goal top scorer, and midfield man Mark Hudson are available again after back and ankle injuries respectively.

Rovers will be missing centre- back Nick Fenton, ruled out for the season after breaking a leg against Brentford.

But boss Dave Penney, whose side are ninth and still in with a shout of the play-offs, has a ready-made replacement in David Wheater, the on-loan Middlesbrough player who was on duty with England Under 21s in midweek.

Town edged a 2-1 win at Doncaster in August, when Chris Brandon and Jon Worthington scored, and Jacko expects another tight game.

"Doncaster have picked up since Dave Penney brought players in during the transfer window, and they played well against Brentford," he said.

"They could have been three up by the break, and on that showing, they will give us a tough test tomorrow.

"But we are in a good run ourselves, and with one of our biggest home crowds of the season anticipated, it should be a real cracker.

"The injuries to Tom Clarke and Michael Collins are unfortunate.

"But I still have a strong squad of players available to me, particularly with Pav and Huddy coming through the Reserve game on Wednesday.

"What with four of the top five in action against each other, it's a crucial set of fixtures.

"All I'm bothered about primarily is that we perform as we know we can and get the win which would keep us second whatever happens elsewhere."