Davies is now in his second season coaching the Pirates

Cornish Pirates forwards coach Ian Davies has said building momentum will be key to success in the play-offs.

The Pirates end their regular season against Doncaster on Saturday, with the promotion play-offs starting in March.

Davies told BBC Cornwall: "It's important for our long-term progress that we finish third in the league.

"If we win this weekend then we actually play Doncaster at home in the first game of the play-offs so we can get a psychological edge."

The Pirates beat Doncaster by 30-14 at the Mennaye Field earlier in the season.

Davies continued: "I don't think there's been any love lost between Doncaster and the Pirates.

"We beat them up there last year so we've got a good record against them but going to Doncaster is never an easy place to go as other teams have found out this year.

"They score a lot of points, they're quite physical in the pack, so we've got to match fire with fire."

Hooker Dave Ward is set to return to the Pirates' starting XV after a spell on the sidelines, while Rhodri McAtee replaces Grant Pointer in the backs.

Doncaster: O Goss, PJ Gidlow, D Flockhart, C Lewis Pratt, N Jones, L Thiede , S Boden, M Cusack, M Challinor , D Parsons, Z Farivarz, N Cochrane, E Jackson

Replacements: T Doughty , S Corsar, C Walker, C Hampson, C Briers, P Devlin, A Gates.

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