Penn ready for basement clash

They sit second from bottom in Division Two, a point and a place behind the hosts, and Bradford is looking for a catalyst to spark their season.

He said: "I don't see us down there at the end of the season but, even at this stage, we don't want to lose a game like this.

"They started well and now can't win but we started badly and now we are starting to play better and pick up some points.

"Hopefully that form will continue on Saturday."

But the captain insists they will not be taking anything for granted.

He said: "The longer you are down there the worse it gets. You don't want to be down there too long otherwise you will find it more difficult to get out of it."

Bradford realises though that the situation isn't as perilous as their position suggests, with just 69 points between rock bottom Sutton Coldfield and second placed Aston Manor.

At the other end of the table, third-placed Wombourne will look to continue their early season form when they host fifth-placed Tamworth on Saturday.

Fordhouses face a mystery challenge on Saturday, when they take on Moseley Ashfield looking to continue their solid recent form in Division Three.

Russell Thompson's side won two successive matches before last Saturday's trip to Eastnor was washed out.

But the skipper is expecting a tough test, against an Ashfield side who Fordhouses have not met for several years.

He said: "They are above us so we know we will have a tough game." Vice-captain Jatin Kohli will return in place of Mitch Davies."

Relaxed Walsall captain Paul Wicker insists there is no pressure on his side as they prepare to host the pretenders to their crown.

The reigning Premier League champions have suffered a stuttering start to the season and are eighth in the table after just one win.

They host leaders Knowle and Dorridge on Saturday needing to being their own belated challenge.

But Wicker isn't putting any extra pressure on his side to perform.

He said: "There's not really any pressure. The pressure is turned up in the second half of the season when you start to talk about being in contention – that's when the pressure starts.

"You could be going for the title or trying to stave off relegation."

Last weekend's trip to bottom side Bromsgrove was a washout, but Wicker has rubbished suggestions his side need to start gaining momentum quickly.

He said: "You need to get momentum at the right time. Momentum at this stage is great but you need it come the last quarter of the season.

"That's when it really starts to count."

The current champions have lost to Barnt Green and Moseley in their last two outings and now Wicker is looking to get back on track on Saturday.

He said: "We've had two disappointing performances, one where we've not batted well and one where we've not bowled well."

Andy Miller is out and will be replaced by 18-year-old Lionel Dembedza. The bowler is a product of the Staffordshire youth system and Wicker has been pleased with his progress.

He added: "He's been impressive in the second team and has done well in the midweek knockout tournament.

"I've been very impressed with his attitude and his heart and he deserves his chance."