Russell Martin has watched his side be beaten too easily at the King Power Stadium this season

Doncaster Rovers at home would have been a fixture Leicester City initially marked as one they should win with little trouble at the start of the season. However, going into this weekend's game, that's far from the reality.

Russell Martin's men welcome the Rovers to the King Power Stadium desperate for a big response to last week's loss to Peterborough United. The defeat was their third home reverse in League One this season, after defeats to Burton Albion and Oxford United.

The loss to Robbie Savage's men has heaped more pressure on Martin, who was brought in to get the club out of the division. Their home form is becoming a problem and this week, they face a team who have won their last three games in all competitions.

Following their latest humiliation in front of their home fans, changes must be made if Leicester are going to get back on track. Conor Chaplin and Will Smallbone could be drafted in, while some players from the 3-1 defeat last time out will need to be dropped.

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Land on a centre-back partnership

Martin has used seven different centre-back partnerships so far this season and he's yet to land on a clear favourite. Harry Souttar and Caleb Okoli started the first three games of the campaign before Luke Thomas was trialled and Warren O'Hora came in.

Since the former Hibernian defender signed on deadline day, O'Hora has started all but one game – the Jersey Mike's Trophy defeat at Stevenage – and looked at his best in the 4-3 win over Stockport. Last week, it was a shock to see Okoli coming back into the defence alongside him.

City continued to look fragile at the back and wide open throughout. No successful team at any level of football makes constant changes in the heart of its defence, so if Leicester are going to climb the table, Martin must make his back line more solid.

Ilari Kangasniemi didn't look out of place in his 45-minute cameo off the bench and offered the pace that might be necessary to deal with counter-attacks. Despite his inconsistent performances, Souttar is an international player who should be playing better than he is.

When the team news comes out on Saturday, Leicester need to get their centre-back partnership right. Souttar and Kangasniemi is a partnership that hasn't been tested yet and could be one that brings solidarity to the backline.

Christian McFarlane return

Both full-backs were an issue for Leicester last weekend with Bade Aluko and Luke Thomas at fault for Peterborough's first two goals. Jayden Joseph isn't available for selection and Martin's warning to players could point to a first league start for Woyo Coulibaly.

At left-back though, Martin has an unwanted headache. Thomas has struggled in that position all season and has only stood out when at centre-back. Last weekend, his role in Posh's second was unacceptable and it has turned the volume up on calls for the full-back to be dropped.

Christian McFarlane missed the game after picking up an injury at Stevenage, where he was also at fault for Wanya Marcal's goal, but will be hoping to be fit this weekend. The England Under-20s star being back will give Martin a decision to make.

Thomas really struggled at the weekend, winning just three of his 10 ground duels and being dribbled past four times. No other player was dribbled past more often. McFarlane is the obvious replacement, but the Manchester City loanee will need to improve on his performance at Stevenage.

The matter of fact is, though, that Thomas' individual mistakes are not new. One thing that sticks with the 25-year-old is that he has a track record of errors leading to goals. This season alone, Leicester have been left scrambling by bad defending on the left and in his run in the team earlier in the season, McFarlane showed signs of being an improvement.

Conor Chaplin dilemma

The summer signing could return to the City squad this weekend and, if passed fit, should make a difference. Chaplin has trained with his teammates and offers a different quality in Leicester's attack, but his fitness is something to be wary of.

Martin started Chaplin against Ipswich Town at the end of August before naming him in the starting line-up against MK Dons just four days later. He came off before half-time and has been missing since, so City have to be careful with his return.

The Foxes have five games coming up in a short space of time, and having Chaplin available throughout that run of fixtures would be a major boost. If Chaplin is named on the bench, Leicester will need a different attacking midfielder to start.

First start

Should Chaplin make it to the bench, Leicester will need to play a different attacking midfielder. Bobby De Cordova-Reid started the Peterborough game and didn't do much wrong, but also didn't do much right. Sammy Braybrooke came off the bench and continued to struggle offensively, so where does Martin go from here?

Kamari Doyle is the current best option based on the last two games. At Stevenage, he got into several dangerous areas, linked play up brilliantly from deep and should have scored a hat-trick. He was given 45 minutes in the league against Peterborough and was arguably their best player in the second half.

The 21-year-old appears to have the right balance between hard work in midfield and contributing in attack. City's biggest issue in that position has been finding a player who can contribute at both ends of the pitch. Doyle is a worthy candidate to get a chance to join Louis Page and John Lundstram.