Welsh Premier League challengers The New Saints and Barry Town will want to take an advantage in the title race, with pacesetters Connah’s Quay Nomads in Irn-Bru Cup action.
The two sides, second and third in the table, go head to head at Park Hall this afternoon while The Nomads are forced them to put their title bid on hold.
The New Saints have been in impressive form of late, stringing together a run of six-consecutive wins without conceding a goal.
Another victory would move them five points clear of rivals Barry Town, and put them a point clear at the top of the table.
“There’s two things here, there’s going top of the table for the first time since October. We’ve had to wait to get to the top of the league, there’s no better incentive and no better carrot for the players,” said Saints manager Scott Ruscoe, who believes a win could set his team up for the final stretch of games.
“If we do get the three points and do well, then there is only eight games to go.
“We need to get the work done first and foremost, they’re a strong side with good players.
“On Saturday we’re looking for nothing less than three points and a dominant performance like we had against them in our first game of the season.”
Barry Town are still searching for their first win in Phase 2 after their game against Bala Town last weekend was abandoned in the second-half.
The Linnets opened their Phase 2 campaign with a 2-0 defeat at Caernarfon.
Newtown face being without first-choice goalkeeper Dave Jones for the visit of Caernarfon Town as both teams look to bounce back from defeats at Latham Park.
Robins manager Chris Hughes says he has faith in back-up Jack Perry: “Dave Jones he is going to have another tester – we have medical procedures we have to follow in the case of Dave so we will have to asses them when working with physio, Andy, before match day.
“But obviously, I’ve got no problems playing Jack (Perry), he did well last week so I have no problems throwing him in again on Saturday.”.
In the Play-Off Conference, Christian Edwards’ Cardiff Met head into their game against Llandudno boosted by the possible return of defender Joel Edwards and midfielder Chris Baker.
The Students can solidify their seventh-place position as they bid to return to the play-offs, but the visitors are fresh off their first WPL win in eight games and will move off the bottom of the table if they avoid defeat.
WPL WEEKEND RESULTS/FIXTURES
Friday: Cefn Druids 3-1 Aberystwyth Town, Llanelli Town 0-3 Carmarthen Town. Saturday (2.30): Cardiff Met v Llandudno, Newtown v Caernarfon Town, The New Saints v Barry Town
