Rotherham, a top-flight club as recently as 2004, have failed to launch a sustained promotion bid since the 2006-07 season when they narrowly missed out on the title.

That season, Titans' 118-point tally saw them finish four points adrift of eventual champions Leeds – and they have finished 11th and 10th, respectively, in the last two campaigns.

They have made a mixed start to the new season, losing 21-12 at Coventry on the opening day, before bouncing back with a 29-16 victory over Plymouth Albion last weekend.

Head coach Craig West has secured a number of Leeds Academy players on dual registration, including centre Luther Burrell, wing Peter Wackett, lock James Craig and prop Phil Swainston. Other new additions to the squad for this season are hooker Ross Batty (Newcastle), back-rower Steve Swindall (Glasgow Warriors), centre Andrew Henderson (Newbury) and back-rower Adam Kleeberger (University of Victoria, Canada).

West's plans have been hindered by an injury to fly-half and captain Mike Whitehead, who damaged a hamstring last week and will miss the next fortnight.

Whitehead was Rotherham's top points scorer with 173 last season – but has backed his understudy, Jonny West, to do a good job in his absence.

Fly-half West certainly made a good start against Plymouth last weekend, kicking 19 points in his side's victory.

"Jonny is a really, really good player and he's definitely up for this level of rugby," said Whitehead.

"I try to give him as much advice as I can and I talk to him all the time during the week leading up to the game. It's not easy playing at 10, I still get stick and make mistakes after all these years, but you've just got to get on with it and play your game."