SHRIVENHAM manager Michael McNally is urging his troops to get back to their old selves when they host Clanfield 85 on Saturday.

Like Shrivvy, Oxfordshire outfit Clanfield are made up primarily of Swindon-based players and they are set to arrive at Barrington Park having not tasted defeat away from home in the Hellenic League Division One West so far this season.

McNally’s Shrivenham, who are currently ninth in the table, have been beaten in four of their last five outings – one of those reverses came at Clanfield earlier this month – and they suffered a disappointing 2-0 loss at the hands of Cheltenham Saracens last weekend.

With a tricky assignment on the cards, the Shrivvy boss hopes his players are eager to get themselves back on the straight and narrow.

“We were awful last weekend and we spoke about it after the game, and it training this week – we need to get back to where we were at the start of December,” said McNally, who expects to have a full squad to choose from on Saturday.

“This is the best group of players I’ve ever had at this club but we need to start picking up points again because we’ve not been doing that recently.

“Results are important but the performance is just as important. We need to start working hard as a team again, and not as individuals.

“Clanfield have improved a lot this season and they beat us 2-0 at their place a few weeks ago.

“They’ve not lost away from home all season, so it’s not going to be easy and the pressure will be all on us on Saturday.

“We’ve got to pull our socks up.”

Elsewhere, Fairford Town go looking to extend their advantage at the top of the table when they host 10th-placed Shortwood United Reserves.

Gareth Davies’ side moved themselves back to the summit last weekend with victory at Easington Sports and with second-placed Hook Norton in cup action for the second successive weekend, Fairford could move four points clear, albeit having played two games more.

New College are in action for the first time since their 4-0 loss at the hands of Shrivenham on December 9 – they make the trip to Letcombe.