STOURBRIDGE manager Gary Hackett has come out fighting ahead of the visit of table toppers Skelmersdale United.

The Glassboys' boss says Saturday's match will provide the perfect opportunity to put the last two league defeats behind them.

He has also backed his players to push on during the second half of the campaign now that the club's injury troubles are starting to ease.

After beating FC United of Manchester at the War Memorial Ground, Stour slipped to a 2-0 defeat against Barwell before losing 4-1 at Buxton last Saturday.

"I have no doubt that we will be play-off material. I have said it all along and I stick to that now," said Hackett. "Now we are starting to get some of our injured players back I think we will finish very strongly.

"We had a similar situation last season when people started to question the squad, but then we bounced back and showed what we are capable of. I'm confident we will prove the doubters wrong once again.

"The Skelmersdale match is a great game for us to have. We have no time to dwell on our last defeats and can focus on getting back on track."

The Glassboys have been boosted with both Leon Broadhurst and Will Richards coming back into contention.

One positive to come out of Tuesday night's Doodson Sport Cup defeat to Leek was that star striker Luke Benbow got 15 minutes of action after a long lay-off with injury.

Stour lost 4-2 on penalties after a late Leek leveller made it 1-1 at full time.

Hackett added: "The injury crisis we have been through at the start of the season has been my worst time in management.

"That is no excuse for how we have performed in the last two games but it does mean we are now getting stronger again.

"The main thing is we have kept ourselves in there fighting and are in a position to kick on in the second half of the season."

Hackett has now brought in former youth team defender Kieran Morris on loan from Brentford and is awaiting international clearance to add versatile left-sided player Josh Quaynor from South Adelaide in Australia.