Its not for me. I'm enjoying some family time but I'll be there when it matters and, lets face it, a match against the Dobbins doesn't really matter!!

This is irrelevant to burn-out, that was due to other factors, an extra 30-40 minutes in a friendly against lower level opposition particularly is not going to effect how knackered players are at the back end of the season.

I'd rather see a coach doing what they think is the most effective way to build up pre-season than pander to what fans and shareholders want in terms of bums on seats(£££) and getting to see the 'star' turns and any potential of an extra few season passes which frankly to suggest people would buy on the back of one friendly is pushing it somewhat in terms of reality.

Last season we got off to a cracking start comprehensively beating Cats and Salford with some fantastic rugby, IF that is replicated and the same galvanising of the players then any pre-season doubts fall by the way-side.

Radford playing the long game. Quite a few of the 11 of our starting 13 not selected against Cas aren't back from the Xmas break I think; opportunities to give the fringe a run more valuable for Radford to assess who's knocking on the door. As for bragging rights

Nearly two years since they won a competitive derby. Throw the lower leaguers a bone

Radford hinting that Kelly may get a run out.Ticket sales must be slow

Ugger it am off. Just wanna see sum.rugby.

Which senior players if any, would you like to see get a run out against KR? Personally I'd like to see Connor, Griffin, Tuimavave and Kelly all get a game. I'd like to see Tuimavave at right centre and Connor from full back. Although can't see Griffin getting a game.

Griffin is being rested as he's got a slight knock apparently

Griffin out and Kelly in, so still just 2 of our starting 13 playing. Long afternoon ahead for our second string but looking forward to seeing which, if any, of the fringe players step up against a strong Rovers side.

Looks like we're throwing the game then judging by the squad. Maybe it's to get more rovers fans there next year? The only one of these I've been to was Horne's testimonial. I have no interest in friendlies.

I don't get the argument about resting the senior players. We need some game time together before the first game or we'll go in "undercooked" and probably lose to wakefield who will be looking for a big start to the season. Not giving kelly and sneyd game time together is crazy IMO. 2 or 3 unxpected losses early in the season could see us out of the running for the top 4 anyway. In season squad management is much more important in keeping the players fresh than a couple of hours in pre season games

Don't forget we still have three more after this. I'd expect to see a couple more guys get a run against Toronto, and then pretty much full strength in the last two.

I would imagine the main reason Kelly is playing is because Radford wanted to see how the youngsters looked with a more experienced pivot to guide them around a bit, as they would have in a SL game, and Kelly has been back training alot longer than Sneyd. I doubt he will play big minutes.

Looking forward to it.
A few sherberts in Parkers from noon.
Happy days.

yea me to, see how some of the young uns go, get to see some rugby, bit of fresh air, jobs a gud un,

Can only see Rovers' Grand Final going one way. Be good to see our youngsters have a run out though.

Yep - they've made a thing about their average squad age today being only 23, but ours is 22; it's their strongest available squad vs our weakest (no offence) with 10 of our 11 most important players missing. For a team with stated intentions of bouncing back to the top flight without needing the MPG they'll be looking for a score similar to last season's friendly, just the other way round (60-20 IIRC). Good luck to the youngsters, big learning experience for them.

Why wouldn't they? Massive deal for them if they win this one whilst we're on a hiding to nothing if we play our best squad. I wouldn't be surprised if the 2 clubs had agreed this between them

No amount of inverted commas can change the fact it is just a pre-season warm up. As long as neither side gets metaphorically kerb-stomped, which tbh does nobody any good in this situation, and there are no major injuries everybody wins.

I hope those going enjoy the game and that it whets the appetite for the games that matter.

Where did those average age figures come from? If they're mean averages they both sound unlikely. Disco and Scruton must drag our average up.

Starting 13 named:

Naughton
Michaels
Carlos
Rawsthorne
Sanderson
Kelly
Wray
Bowden
Litten
Green
Washbrook
Turgut
Thompson

A couple of interesting picks there. Namely Turgut starting and Hadley on the bench, and Sanderson starting ahead of Lancaster. Does that indicate a little shuffling of the pecking order, or does Radford just want to be able to spread the experience out a little, so it's not strongest 13 in the first half and weakest 13 in the second?

I did ours based on a 24 man squad with I think only 3 or so over 25 (Washy, Green, Michaels) and most of the rest about 20/21. I can provide the spreadsheet later if required. Yours came from HDM resident apologist Gareth Westmorland, so he'll have just printed what the club told him to. He'll be claiming Rovers haven't had 6k passholders in SL era next, or that 737 > 1300 again.

Is the commentary online anywhere?

www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_humberside

www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/bbc_radio_humberside

Absolute stroll in for Rovers. Long afternoon coming up.

Should have had another too. Blimey.

There it is. Great hands from Rovers.

I think we all expected a straightforward Rovers win when we saw the squads, but I hope this doesn't turn into a blowout.

Albert Kelly earning his corn already. 4-10 KTC