Howe blow for Gulls
Torquay will be without talismanic striker Rene Howe when they host Bristol Rovers looking for the point they need to secure npower League Two safety.
The club's top scorer will be suspended for the clash with John Ward's men and the first two matches of next season after picking up his 15th booking of the campaign in the 2-0 win at Morecambe last weekend.
Ryan Jarvis is the favourite to replace Howe in the starting line-up and manager Alan Knill, who gave his squad an extra day off on Monday, has no fresh injury worries and is focusing on keeping his squad as fresh as possible.
While the Gulls need a point to guarantee safety they may not even need that if one of the five teams below them slip up in what is sure to be a nail-biting conclusion to one of the tightest relegation battles in recent history.
Rovers will be without defender Clayton McDonald for the trip.
The Port Vale loanee's stay at the Memorial Ground has been cut short by a hamstring injury meaning that forced him off just after half-time in the Pirates' 1-0 defeat to Accrington last weekend.
Manager John Ward rang the changes for that match with the likes of Joe Anyinsah, Ryan Brunt and Ollie Norburn on the bench and the trio are all pushing for starts at Plainmoor.
Young midfielder Ollie Clarke will hope to keep his place in the side after the Rovers youth product made his first start for the club against Stanley. And Ward told his side after that disappointing loss that they will have to be better than that against the Gulls.
Rovers remain without Danny Woodards, who suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while long-term injury absentees Matt Harrold, Garry Kenneth and Seanan Clucas remain out with similar injuries.
Meanwhile Rovers assistant manager Shaun North will not be on the bench against his former employees after he left the Memorial Stadium this week by mutual consent after two years with the Pirates.
Source: PA
