James aims to crown accolade and 500th appearance with win on road to redemption.
James Coppinger hopes to mark a milestone season with a promotion.
The Rovers captain, who scooped the player of the month award in League Two for August today, looks set to make his 500th senior appearance for Rovers on Saturday, and is keen for it to be part of a campaign which sees the club return to Sky Bet League One.
He said: “I want to get Doncaster back where they belong. I know people say that that’s a cliché and at the moment we belong in League Two because our performances and results haven’t been good enough.
“But what happened last year was disappointing for everybody and to go out like that would be a shame. I think with what the club’s put in place, the infrastructure, the players that they’ve bought, what they want to do with the youth academy, I think it’s definitely an exciting place to be and I want to be part of that.”
Coppinger has had opportunities to move to other clubs, but has no regrets at staying at Rovers for so long.
He said: “I’m glad to have stayed here. You can play for different clubs for different reasons, for money or to play at a higher level or bigger club.
“But that has never been my focus. My focus is to be happy; I have a family and want to enjoy my football. You have to be realistic and that has paid dividends for me, because I am at a good club that I’ve had a great relationship with and I’m here at 35, still enjoying my football and offering something to the club.
“Everyone has different motivations. For me, at the stage in my career when Rovers were in the Championship and doing very well, I was settled with my family and why would I want to move somewhere else and jeopardise all that? I may not still be playing at 35 if I had. I’m very happy with how it has worked out.
“The best coaches I have worked with are the ones I have believed the most, who are enthusiastic about how they try to make you a better player.
“Darren Ferguson is like that. It is lucky for me at my age to get a manager like that, who it is not all about him but what he is trying to create as a team.”