St Neots are targeting a top-three finish, while St Ives are eager to get back in action.

MICK Cleary reckons St Neots are primed and ready for an assault on the top three as they gear up to resume their Midlands Four East South �campaign at �basement boys Thornley this weekend.

The match should �provide mid-table Neots with the ideal opportunity to get back on track after four straight league losses, the last of which was a 20-0 reverse at the hands of second-placed Stamford back on December 11.

Club captain Cleary said: “All the boys are up for it and looking forward to getting back after what will have been about four weeks since we last played.

“We were quite disappointed to have some games postponed before Christmas because we have a fully-fit squad for the first time in a long time.

“They are all up for it and raring to go.

“We’ve got guys back from injury and suspension so I hope to have my first XV out there on Saturday.

“I can’t see anybody other than the top two giving us a game at the moment and there can be no excuses now we have everyone available.”

St Ives, meanwhile, currently sit fifth in the table as they start 2011 on the road at Vauxhall Motors, two places below them in the table.

They ended last year with two wins on the road at Westwood and local rivals St Neots and a win this weekend would make it three away wins on the bounce.

Skipper Ross Thompson joked: “We’ll see how much the guys have eaten turkey wise over Christmas and see if they’ve been celebrating too much.”

Ahead of their return to action, Thompson said: “The guys are champing at the bit.

“We’ve obviously had a week’s break over Christmas but the reception I’ve got from the guys I’ve spoken to so far is that they can’t wait to get into it again so I’m very optimistic.”