JON Higgins says it is vital Dudley Kingswinford do not freeze in their derby clash with Stourbridge.

The player-coach is expecting a cauldron-like atmosphere at Stourton Park when his side take the short trip down the A449 on Saturday for a mouth-watering National League Two North clash.

Higgins has compared the build-up to last season’s showdown with big spending Rugby Lions, when DK were hammered at Heathbrook and is anxious to avoid a repeat.

He said: ”A repeat of the Rugby Lions game is the last thing we want to happen.

“It was built up as a big game between two teams at the top and we ended up shipping 60 points.

“As long as we don’t freeze on Saturday I’ll be happy and the result will take care of itself.”

Higgins accepts his side go into the game as big underdogs against a club who were playing three levels above them just 18 months ago.

But he believes DK have the firepower in the backs to cause their rivals problems, if they can achieve parity in the front row.

He added: “I think the quality of our backline has been evident over the past couple of seasons.

“If we can get plenty of quality ball, we will give them a tough time.

“Let’s make no bones about it, they have made it fairly clear they want to win promotion straight back to National One.

“Our goals obviously fall a little short of that but everyone at the club is looking forward to it.

“Playing in games like this is what sport is all about.”

A stunning late comeback from Otley saw DK’s National League Two bow end in heartbreak last Saturday, as the visitors overturned a 10 point deficit in the closing minutes to snatch a 34-32 win.

Despite the result, Higgins saw plenty of encouraging signs in the performance.

He said: “If you look back to last year when we had just been promoted to National Three, in our first game we did not play very well.

“On Saturday we did everything but get the win.

“I think we are all hopeful of building on the performance in the weeks ahead.”