DONCASTER Rovers launch their pre-season campaign with a trip to Northern Counties East League side Rossington Main tonight.
Main were one of several local clubs keen to face newly-promoted Rovers, and got the nod due to the quality of their playing surface.
"It is just a game to get the players back into it and to get the squad out into the community and hopefully help Rossington out with a decent gate," said Rovers boss Sean O'Driscoll.
"We'll be taking the full first-team squad and we'll play a different team in each half as will be the case when we play Scunthorpe on Saturday week."
Rovers fans will get their first chance to run the rule over midfielder John Spicer - the only player signed so far since the end of last season.
The former Burnley man has been brought in to replace Paul Green, who moved to relegated Derby within days of Rovers beating Leeds in the League One Play-off final.
Another new face on view will be young defender Jamie Lovegrove.
Lovegrove, who was released by Conference side Crawley, has been recommended by former Chelsea star John Hollins.
Hollins gave Lovegrove, who has spent the last three days training with Rovers, his first-team debut at Crawley when he was just 16.
O'Driscoll is aware that supporters are awaiting news of further signings in addition to Spicer, and is equally keen to make progress.
"We are talking to one or two players like most clubs are," he said. "But the players who are sought after are probably in negotiations with four or five clubs and nobody wants to get caught up in an auction.
"We know we need to strengthen the squad but we've got to do it in a way we can afford.
"We can't afford players who have come down from the Premier League and who are looking to play in the Championship.
"We've got to look at players who have played in the Championship and who are still hungry to do so again.
"It might be that we'll look at players who have never played in the Championship before but who we feel could step up and come through and do really well."
Rovers finalised their pre-season programme yesterday fixing up a game at League Two Morecombe, who they last played in their Conference days, on July 22.
Said O'Driscoll: "It was difficult to arrange pre-season games when we were still involved in the play-offs."
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