NOTTINGHAM Rugby can bounce back to the top of the Championship when they play Coventry at the Butts Park Arena tonight (7.45pm).

The Green and Whites are only three points behind leaders Exeter Chiefs and a victory against the Blues would be enough to take them to the top.

"It's meat and drink time for us," director of rugby Glenn Delaney. "We've got some big opposition coming and we've got to keep the momentum going, keep playing well so that we maintain league points in that top eight.

"That's the key criteria. We are going to have the chance to see who's the best out there in the next four or five weeks."

However, there is the small problem of Coventry tonight as they always give Nottingham trouble.

"Coventry away is always a tough game. We know how hard it is to win there," said Delaney.

"They are always a problem, they are a feisty group of players and at home are a particularly tough team to beat.

"We've won a couple of games down there in the last couple of years. We know it will be difficult and if we go there halfway complacent expecting things to happen, then they just won't happen.

"You've got to work incredibly hard and we've done that in the last couple of years so we are just focusing on being efficient, being direct in the right parts of the field looking for opportunities to win."

Over the last few weeks, the Green and Whites have run in a hatful of tries and Delaney believes he has a backline capable of scoring against anybody.

"We've got a great attitude in the team and they are working very hard," said Delaney. "They are training well and that is being replicated.

"There is the old adage of putting the work in on the training park, then we will get the benefits on the pitch and that is what we are getting at the moment.

"As a team we not trying to worry too much about who we play. We are concentrating on how we play and doing it well, and then doing it better the next week.

"It's a good, fun environment to be in at the moment.

"We are working extremely hard as coaches, the strength and conditioning guys are doing their bit, and the players are responding. They are challenging us, we are challenging them, so it's a pretty healthy place to be just now."

Nottingham's 46-0 win against Rotherham Titans gave Delaney a great deal of satisfaction.

He said: "That was some of the best stuff we have played. I always give the guys credit when they play well and I always give them a little bit of stick when they don't.

"The back division is looking very dangerous."

Adam Rostron takes over as hooker tonight as Tom Youngs will be on the bench for Leicester in the Heineken Cup.

Ian Nimmo is out until at least Christmas after breaking his fibula in training on Monday.

Nottingham: Jackson, Cobden, Johnston, Tonks, Streather, Taylor, Usasz, Parr, Rostron, Du Plessis, Rouse, Green, Hammond, Sherriff, Hemingway. Replacements: Fowkes, Sammons, Buxton, Raven, Eggleshaw, White, Nirmalendren.