Merthyr Town travel to North Hertfordshire for their Southern League clash with Hitchin Town on Saturday (3pm).
Manager Gavin Williams and his Martyrs face a difficult test at Hitchin’s Top Field Stadium, particularly after suffering three defeats in their last four fixtures.
Hitchin have qualified for the Premier Division play-offs in the last two seasons and only missed out on promotion when they lost against Leamington in the 2017 final.
The Canaries have not been able to launch a challenge near the top so far this season and are in 15th place, although they have only suffered one defeat at home. That came against Banbury, although Hitchin won 1-0 against Redditch United at home on Monday.
Merthyr seemed to put their shocking 5-4 home defeat against Slough Town behind them when they defeated Gosport 5-0 at home, but suffered a 3-2 defeat at Weymouth this week.
The Martyrs were four goals ahead at half-time against Slough and Williams admits: “In all my years of playing, coaching and managing I have never experienced anything like that.
“It was bizarre. The players and I take full responsibility for what happened.
“How do you put your finger on what happened? In the first 40 minutes were fantastic against one of the best teams in our league, 4-0 ahead and we hit a post twice. It could have been 6-0.
“When a team scores four goals that should be good enough for a win. Nothing like that will ever happen again.”
Merthyr and Hitchin clashed in the play-off semi-finals last season and only a penalty shootout separated the teams with Saturday’s hosts going into the final.
Williams is monitoring three injury issues which could affect their starting line up on Saturday. Curtis McDonald and in-form forward Ian Traylor could both be out with hamstring injuries, while captain Ashley Evans is suffering with a groin strain.
All three players are rated doubtful, but could feature if they come through late fitness tests.
Ryan Prosser is still some way from fitness as he tries to overcome a back injury.
The Martyrs kept their 3-5-2 formation at Weymouth, but they have conceded 13 goals in their last four matches even though goalkeeper Oliver Davies kept a clean sheet against Gosport.
McDonald, Jarrad Wright and Kyle Patten played in the back three at Weymouth with Adam Davies and Corey Jenkins in the wing-back positions.
Robbie Patten was recalled to the midfield and played alongside Ashley Evans and Elliot Richards with Traylor given a free role just behind main striker Fleetwood.
Merthyr Town, from: O Davies, A Davies, McDonald, A Evans, K Copp, J Wright, R Patten, C Jenkins, K Patten, S Fleetwood, M Touray, E Richards, I Traylor, K Morgan, J Bowen, S Tancock.
