Rovers are in Checkatrade Trophy action on Tuesday night when they host Grimsby Town in their second Group G game of the competition at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Rovers will be in search of their first win in the group stage following their 3-1 defeat at home to Newcastle United under-21s last month.
Grimsby meanwhile won their first game 2-1 at home to Notts County, with goals from Mitch Rose and Jake Hessenthaler seeing them come from behind to beat the Magpies.
Brief history of Grimsby Town
Grimsby play at the 9,027-capacity Blundell Park stadium, which is located in Cleethorpes.
They are nicknamed the Mariners, which comes from their proximity to the east coast.
Grimsby returned to the EFL in 2016 following their National League play-off final victory over Forest Green Rovers at Wembley Stadium, with Omar Bogle’s double and Nathan Arnold’s injury time strike sealing a return to league football after a six-year absence.
The Mariners won this competition in 1998, beating AFC Bournemouth 2-1 after extra time, with Wayne Burnett’s 112th-minute strike earning them the win.
Who’s the gaffer?
Michael Jolley is the man in the opposition dug-out, becoming manager towards the end of last season.
Jolley joined the Mariners after his departure from Swedish side AFC Eskilstuna with whom he had spent a year in charge.
He has taken charge of 24 games so far whilst with the Mariners, winning eight, drawing five and losing 11, leaving him with a win percentage of 33.3 per cent.
Ones to watch
JJ Hooper
The forward scored the Mariners’ second goal in their 2-0 win over Port Vale over the weekend. Hooper signed from Port Vale before the start of last season having spent two seasons with the Valiants prior to his switch to Blundell Park. Hooper was formerly on the books at Newcastle United, however after failing to make an appearance for the Magpies, he joined Northampton Town, before a permanent move to Havant and Waterlooville. Hooper scored seven goals in League Two last season, including a hat-trick on the final day away at Forest Green Rovers.
Danny Collins
The 37-year-old is a very experienced centre-back and is a key player for the Mariners. He has played for the likes of Sunderland, Stoke City, Ipswich Town, West Ham United and Nottingham Forest throughout his career which highlights his ability. He signed for the Mariners in 2016 on a free transfer and has since gone on to make over 80 appearances for the club.
Mitch Rose
The 24-year-old midfielder was born in Doncaster but came up through the ranks with Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham United. After five years with the Millers, Rose briefly dropped down into non-league with Ilkeston, before Mansfield Town came calling in 2015, with Rose spending two years in League Two with the Stags. A short stint with Newport County then led him to Blundell Park, where he scored eight times last season, including three penalties in the last four games to secure their EFL status for another year. Rose is also the younger brother of Tottenham Hotspur and England international full-back, Danny.
Who's the ref?
Michael Salisbury will be the man in charge when the two sides meet on Tuesday night. He has taken charge of 11 games in league and cup competitions this season, dishing out 33 yellow cards and brandishing just one red card.
He last took control of a game involving Rovers in March 2017 in their goalless draw away at Crawley Town in League Two. His last game in charge of Grimsby came in January this year, also in League Two, in the Mariners' 1-0 defeat at home to Luton Town.
He will be joined by assitant referees Stephen Wade and Barry Cropp, with James Bell being named as fourth official.
Last time out
Rovers faced the Mariners in pre-season in the build up to the 2018/19 campaign, with Reece Hall-Johnson’s first half strike enough for Grimsby to take the win at Blundell Park. Rovers’ last victory over the Mariners came in April 2017, with John Marquis stealing the show with a hat-trick in a 5-1 win, which would set Rovers up for promotion a week later at home to Mansfield Town.
Tickets for Rovers’ Checkatrade Trophy game against Grimsby Town are still available via the Club Doncaster Box Office – purchase yours now by either visiting in-store at the Keepmoat Stadium, by calling on 01302 762576, or online at tickets.clubdoncaster.co.uk.