Paul Trollope is expecting to face an AFC Bournemouth side with a "tough mentality" at the Fitness First Stadium this weekend.

The first team coach believe the Cherries, who are currently six points away from safety, will be a stern challenge for his players as they look to take another step towards League One survival.

Bournemouth were deducted ten points earlier in the season for entering administration, and had it not been for that punishment, would now be just two places below Rovers in the table.

"If they had those ten points they would be very close to where we are," Paul told bristolrovers.co.uk, "They've picked up some very good results of late in difficult circumstances, and in their minds they will believe they can still stay up and pull themselves out of it.

"They will know that with those ten points they would probably be safe, and whether they survive or not, the manager and the players will want to aim for as many points between now and the end of the season as possible.

"Their mentality has to be of having nothing to lose, that is how they beat Swansea recently and how they've picked up some other impressive results.

"Bournemouth is a good club with decent support and a nice ground, and we're pleased the future of the football club has been secured. It will be an interesting week for us to go there, and what with what's happened off the field in recent days I'm sure there will be a buoyant atmosphere about the place.

"It will be a tough challenge for us against a side that will have a tough mentality and will be desperate for the points. But if we produce the level of performance we saw at Forest on Tuesday then I'm confident we can win the game.

"We haven't disappointed in away games too many times this season, and we want that to continue on Saturday. We still need points to make sure we don't fall any lower in the table, and one more win would probably see us safe."