Time is fast running out for Shrewsbury Rugby Club to haul themselves to safety – with skipper Mattie Morris, ever the realist, admitting his side’s survival chances in Midlands Three West (North) are slim.
The Sundorne Castle men are four points adrift of the third bottom place with just two matches remaining.
They host Leek, the only team below them in the table, on Saturday (3pm) before wrapping up their tough season at champions Camp Hill the following weekend.
“All we can do is try and win our last two games and hope that results elsewhere in the games involving Wednesbury and Stafford go our way,” said Morris.
“We’re still not sure how many teams will be relegated from our division. We’ve just got to end with two wins to give ourselves any sort of chance, however slim it is.
“We lost to Leek earlier in the season in what was definitely our worst performance this season so we want to put that right.”
Shrewsbury will make a late decision on their starting XV as they wait to see whether Sam Wycherley recovers from an ankle injury and whether Jim Pugh will be free to play owing to work commitments.
SHREWSBURY (from): B. Jenkins, N. Challinor, N. Williams, S. Crippen, G. Adams, L. Mill, S. Wycherley, S. Evitts, J. Plant, J. Pugh, M. Morris, W. Jones, A. Swann, J. Wareham, J. Adams, D. Bradburne, D. Griffiths, M. Edwards, R. Hooper.
Whitchurch, meanwhile, face a vital game in their battle to beat the drop in Midlands Two West as they travel to Cheltenham North. See page 114 of the Shrewsbury Chronicle or North Shropshire Chronicle on sale now.