BRUTAL circuit training sessions have maintained Dudley Kingswinford’s fitness during the big freeze, reveals head coach Jon Higgins.

The Heathbrook outfit return to action at Preston Grasshoppers this Saturday, after the recent appalling weather conditions put paid to games with Sheffield Tigers and Hull Ionians.

And though the players have been unable to use the pitch, they have been kept in shape by fitness coach Kevin Raisin.

Higgins revealed Raisin’s indoor training sessions have become almost legendary in their toughness.

He said: “When the text goes round we are training indoors you can sense the foreboding among the players, they know what is coming.

“Kevin has an uncanny knack of making it tougher than before.

“The one we had last week was pretty horrendous and a few of the lads were saying it was the worst thing they had ever done.

“But it is keeping us sharp. I’ve no fear over our fitness going into this weekend’s game.”

DK have not played since their stunning 18-15 win over Darlington Mowden Park and Higgins admits that result seems a “long, long time ago.”

Preston sit fifth in the National Two North and Higgins says his side will concentrate on getting the basics right.

He said: “It’s been a while since we’ve played so the main focus has to be on the basics, it will be like starting again for many of the guys.

“Preston haven’t lost too many at home and they beat us at our place earlier in the season.

“They are a good outfit, well organised and it’s going to be a tall order for us going into this game after two weeks off.”