SHRIVENHAM are yet to beat Holmer Green in 90 minutes this term.

In August, Gareth Davies’ squad were held to a pair of 1-1 draws against the Wycombe club in the first qualifying round of the FA Cup before prevailing 4-5 on penalties.

And following the club’s surprise draw 3-3 draw at home to Hellenic League basement team Brimscombe & Thrupp on Tuesday night, Shrivvy boss Davies knows this weekend’s tie has the potential to be another ‘banana skin’ game.

That’s despite Green losing their last 14 games in all competitions and their current position in the Premier Division table – where only five points have been secured in 15 fixtures.

Davies said: “ We definitely dropped two points on Tuesday night (against Brimscombe & Thrupp), and looking to Saturday it’s setup to be the same again.

“Holmer Green are down the bottom, they’ll be busy and want to cause us problems. But we have to go into it with the right mindset and treat the game as though we are top of the table.

“The lads we’ve brought in have improved the squad massively, and it has raised competition within the squad too – everyone has raised their game.

“I personally think we’ve got a good squad, however I might be a bit thin after this weekend.”

A catalogue of injuries in the build-up to Saturday’s game has done little to aid Davies’ cause.

Nick Stanley (ankle) Maccauley Dodson (leg), Aaron Dainton (hamstring) and Lewis Petrie (hip flexor) are only four names on an extensive niggle and injury list for Shrivenham.

At the same time, Davies has backed his fringe players to step up to the challenge that faces them and stake a claim for a regular first-team spot.

He added: “There is an opportunity for someone else because of these injuries, and those play-ers stepping in must take their chance.

“It’s something we have to deal with. There will be opportunities for others to come in and stake a claim.

“Players that come in will be chomping at the bit to try and get back in the team.”