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With Rovers girding their loins for a vital two-games-in-three-days weekend assault on the leagues top three, Dolby was warned to expect the toughest of tests – by Nuneaton boss John Barton.

Dolby said: “I was talking to john and he told me Nuneaton had had really difficult games against sides from the bottom of the league – some of the hardest games they’ve had this season.”

Indeed, Borough achieved only the narrowest of victories over teams like Hinckley Town (1-0), Racing Club Warwick (2-1) and Forest Green Rovers (3-2).

And with pressure for points building at the top of the table Dolby would certainly settle for similar results as his side entertain struggling Racing Club tomorrow before travelling to meet Stroud-based Forest Green on Monday in a game brought forward to allow more time to prepare for the following Saturday’s FA Vase semi-final first leg at Bridlington.

That preparation, however, will not be allowed to begin before the Forest Green game is over, with Dolby saying: “It’s vitally important for us to beat Racing Club and we’ll be concentrating on that and nothing else on Saturday.

“After that we’ll turn our attention to the Forest Green game, one I expect to be really tough – they’re a much improved side. Of course the Vase game is on our minds but I don’t believe its affecting our performances in the league and I wouldn’t expect it to.”

Any Rovers player who is tempted to start daydreaming is likely to get a reminder that the signing of striker Mark Hurst from Leicester United and the return to fitness of midfielder Tony Marsden has stepped up competition for places once more.

Said Dolby: “That will create more pressure for places, certainly. I’ve not signed Mark to play in the reserves. I’ve signed him to play in the first team and he’ll come into contention straight away.

“We’ve got a lot games left – 17 in the league – so players will be left out for some games for their own good. No player likes being left out – they all like to play in every game – but they’re going to need rest and they’re going to get it. They’ll all get their chance before the end of the season.”

Robbie Briscoe’s departure to Burton Albion has come as a major surprise to many Rovers fans, but my feeling is that the time was right for the former Derby County player to try pastures new.

Briscoe was a revelation at the start of the season but a gradual loss of form, the player’s dissatisfaction with a midfield role rather than his preferred left back shirt and the emergence of Dave Swainston as one of Gresley’s most consistent players in just that position all conspired to make the move to Burton a logical one.

Rovers may well have had the best out of Briscoe – it will be up to him to prove otherwise in the yellow and black.