Neil Etheridge: Walsall will get a break

Having been competing at the top end of League One all season, the Saddlers have largely played against teams set up in a defensive mindset in the past few weeks.

That has meant goals have been hard to come by with Sean O'Driscoll's side netting just twice in their last five outings.

Barnsley, in contrast, arrive in great form having won eight of their last 10 games with a traditional 4-4-2 formation that includes two strikers and two direct wingers.

But Etheridge believes the Tykes positivity can be used against them. The Philippines intentional said: "I think their style might help us.

"Teams have been set up to press us from the front and they keep the back four solid. It will be a different game against Barnsley.

"We have analysed them throughout the week and they are an attacking side. I think if we can keep a clean sheet we will have a great chance."

Etheridge believes the Saddlers are slightly more organised under O'Driscoll than previous boss Dean Smith.

The 26-year-old said. believes s strong defence is key if the team are to be successful, continuing: "We have worked a lot on the defensive side of things with the new gaffer."

"I don't think we leaked goals at the start of the season but we know teams try to break us on the counter-attack because we are an attacking, free-flowing team.

"Teams are definitely doing their homework on us and making it hard for us to score goals but we are not leaking goals.

"If we can keep a base of clean sheets from now until the end of the season, our form in front of goal will turn and we will score goals and the points will come."

Meanwhile, Saddlers midfielder Isaiah Osbourne is continuing to step up his recovery from knee ligament surgery.

Having previously being doing his recovery work in the gym, Osbourne has now progressed to working on grass with the club's coaches.