NOTTINGHAM Rugby have prepared for a battle against Leeds Carnegie at Lady Bay this afternoon (2pm).

The Yorkshire visitors lost to Esher, who are bottom of the league, last weekend and the Green and Whites director of rugby, Glenn Delaney, has warned his players to expect a backlash.

"I know it's getting close to the play-offs but Leeds will not have liked losing to Esher and I expect them to bring their best possible team today," said Delaney.

"They will be smarting and I want our guys to be prepared for whatever they throw at us."

The Green and Whites have had to move to Lady Bay for this re-arranged fixture because it coincides with a home match for their Meadow Lane hosts, Notts County FC.

The twice postponed fixture is the third match over a ten-day period for Nottingham, but so far they have managed to deal well with the fixture congestion.

"It's obviously not an ideal situation to be in," said Delaney. "But at the end of the day we just need to get these matches played.

"The weather has created challenges that we've dealt with and we'll take the move to Lady Bay in our stride too.

"In some ways, this backlog of matches has been good for the squad. We've needed to rotate to give ourselves the best chance of winning and it's meant that all members of the squad are being utilised.

"Getting this game time in all of their legs before the play-offs can only be a good thing.

"We managed two very good victories last week with a completely different side starting each match.

"It's a credit to the players that they delivered the required performances and it shows the strength in depth we now have.

"Now, it's all about building momentum as we head towards the play-offs.

"Our performances have been encouraging in the last few games and now we just need to continue in the same vein against Leeds today and Bedford at the weekend."

Winger Rhys Crane has not been considered for the Leeds game following his red card for alleged head-butting against Plymouth at the weekend.

Crane, who completed his comeback from a broken jaw and a horror spell of injuries spanning 12 months, was sent-off in the final minute of the 21-19 win at the Brickfields for the incident.

As part of Nottingham Rugby's disciplinary protocols, Crane has been handed a club-imposed suspension.

Nottingham: Savage, Lewington, Streather, Socino, Cobden (Jack), Arlidge, Romans, Levi, Wilson, Kalamafoni, Rouse, Green, Bower, Duffey, Harris. Replacements: Holloway, Parr, Prescott, Hammond, Eggleshaw, Barnham, Forsyth.