RELEGATION battling Bromsgrove are relishing what is expected to be a testing battle at mid-table Caldy in the National North Two on Saturday.

The Finstall Park side are in desperate need of victories to lift themselves out of the bottom three.

A chance to build on the victory over basement boys Dudley Kingswinford was lost after Saturday’s clash against Birmingham and Solihull was postponed because of an unplayable pitch.

But head coach Ross Baxter has no worries about the surface at their Wirral home.

He said: “Caldy are based on the Wirrall peninsula and their pitch is quite sandy underneath and drains very well, so they do not tend to have many games called off there.

“Normally when we play Caldy the home side normally wins but I believe we go there with a good chance.

“There won’t be much chance of wing play but the trick to winning will be us keeping possession.

“It might be a game for the purists but I believe we have the pack to win this match.”

Bromsgrove are 13 points behind fourth from bottom Hull, who are just above the drop zone.

Baxter admitted there is no room for error if they are to pull off the great escape.

He said: “We need to win our final nine games. As long as there’s a chance of surviving we will be doing our best to get out of the situation we are in.”

Bromsgrove will miss the services of captain Phil Horton, who will be out for the rest of the season thanks to needing surgery on his knee.

But Jon Critchlow and Chris McGregor are nearing availability after being out for some time with injuries. The Boars are also hoping to bolster their squad with Worcester Warriors academy players and several other signings.

The match against Birmingham has been re-arranged for March 15.