HUNTINGDON Stags return to Midlands Two East South action on Saturday with a tough trip to joint-leaders Towcestrians.

HUNTINGDON Stags return to Midlands Two East South action on Saturday with a tough trip to joint-leaders Towcestrians.

Postponements combined with the festive break means that Stags haven’t played a competitive fixture since December 11 when they went down 20-16 at Northampton Old Scouts.

They go into 2011 in eighth place in the table having won just once in five league games before the turn of the year and need a marked improvement in order to secure a top six finish.

Stags player-coach Damian Whales admits his side couldn’t have wished for a tougher fixture as they resume their league campaign, but is also quietly confident they can spring a surprise.

And it isn’t out of the question, with Stags recording a 17-17 draw against Towcestrians when the two sides met at the Racecourse back in mid-September.

They also counted themselves a little unlucky not to pick up a memorable win, having led 17-10 at one stage.

“Towcestrians is probably the hardest away game we’ll play all season,” said Whales.

“In previous years, they’ve put 50 points on us over there but we’re going there with a different outlook this time.

“We’ve managed to take bonus points from tough away games like Market Harborough and Bugbrooke so hopefully we’ll be competitive.”

Towcestrians is one of three testing upcoming fixtures for Stags, but Whales is optimistic for the remainder of the campaign.

He said: “We’ve already played most of the top sides away from home, which might make things easier.

“In the next few weeks we also play Bugbrooke and go to Stewarts & Lloyds but, once we get the next three games out of the way, the fixtures look quite appetising.

“We’ll be looking to get as many points as we can from the next three and then capitalise.”