Paul Downing believes Walsall are stronger

The 31-year-old centre-back has been in excellent form for Doncaster, who the Saddlers visit this Saturday.

Butler was a hugely influential figure during his three-and-a-half years at the Banks's before departing last summer, initially to Sheffield United.

Yet defensively the Saddlers have remained strong and Downing, Butler's former partner at the back, believes they are a tougher team overall.

How the Saddlers would deal with Butler's high-profile exit was one of the big question marks last summer but they have again ranked among League One's best defences.

They have kept 11 clean sheets – two of which were earned during Butler's brief loan return earlier in the campaign – and currently boast the division's best defensive record on the road.

Downing said: "There have always been very good players here who have managed to maybe take a bit more responsibility.

"They were always there, they just maybe never had the chance to show what they are about.

"I think we are a stronger team than we are last year and all those factors just mean it has not been a problem."

Downing believes the next few weeks will be vital in keeping alive their hopes of making a play-off charge. The Saddlers are currently five points outside the top six and two behind Saturday's opponents.

"Some of the performances we have put in, you probably feel we should have more points," he said.

"But that's gone and there is nothing we can do about it. It's still very tight and there is not a huge gap between us and the play-offs."