HUW GRIFFITHS has warned Connah’s Quay Nomads that Cefn Druids need the points just as much as the title pacesetters tonight.

Nomads are a point clear of Barry Town United at the top of the table at the halfway stage of the season, reigning champions The New Saints three worse off.

In contrast, Druids are ninth in the table, six points clear of the relegation zone and eight adrift of the top six.

A top half finish looks beyond Druids, but Griffiths knows his team need points - starting at home to Nomads - in their quest to stay in the Welsh top-flight.

“I’ve got nothing but admiration for what Andy (Morrison) has done at Nomads,” said Griffiths, who saw his side thump Ruthin Town 11-2 in the Newfa Challenge Cup on Tuesday night.

“They are top of the league, and that is because they’ve been the best team so far this season.

“But, as much as I like Andy and hope they win the league, they won’t get anything from us because we want and need the points just as much as they do.”

Despite home advantage, Griffiths believes that Druids can treat this evening’s clash as a “free-hit”.

“If Connah’s Quay are very good and we are very good then they win,” continued Griffiths. “But if we are at full-tilt and they aren’t, we can win the game.

“They want to win the league and they’ve got the quality all over the pitch to do that. They’ve also got a strong bench which is capable of changing any game.

“It’s a little bit of a free-hit for us. Any point is a good one when you are where we are in the table.”

Griffiths’ words won’t come as any surprise to Nomads first team coach Craig Harrison, who insists that the Flintshire title hopefuls must be ready for each and every challenge that comes their way.

“We’ve had a really good season up to date,” said Harrison. “We obviously got knocked out in the semi-finals of the League Cup, we are in the semi-finals of the Scottish Challenge Cup and now we are through in the Welsh Cup.

“We are sitting at the top of the league at this moment in time and the challenges are every single week. Every single week is a different challenge.

“And if you are going to be a top team and win things then you’ve got to make sure you are ready for the challenge every single week because everybody wants to beat you.”

Winger Ryan Wignall is expected to start for Nomads, who are hoping that Andy Owens has fully recovered from the sickness bug that forced him off before half time of the 4-2 Welsh Cup win at Guilsfield last Saturday.

James Davies, pictured, who scored four for Druids in midweek, is a doubt, while Alun Morris (hamstring) looks set to miss out.

Griffiths added: "James took a knock early in the game, but played through it until we decided four goals was enough and took him off in order to try and protect him for the league games we've got coming up."

But the key quintet of Neil Ashton, Alec Mudimu, Iwan Cartwright, Ryan Kershaw and Mike Jones will return to the Druids squad after sitting out Tuesday's comprehensive victory over Ruthin.

Scott Ruscoe has told The New Saints to go out and show why they have won the league for six successive years.

Saints have not had things their own way this term, Ruscoe’s men back in third place in the table, three points off top spot.

But, ahead of tonight’s trip to Bala, Ruscoe, pictured, was in bullish mood.

He said: “We are at Christmas now and this is where we come into our own.

“There’s six games (until the split) and the players know their targets.

“Hopefully we can have a good run of form, but it’s about doing it. Talk is cheap and they need to get out do it and make sure we are in a healthy position by the split.”

Bala Town boss Colin Caton saw his side draw 0-0 at Park Hall earlier in the season, and is confident of getting another positive result this evening.

“It’s not like them and they are not as clinical and as consistent as they have been,” said Caton.

“We changed the way we play when we went there earlier this season and it was a draw.

“The lads played really well.

“We will go the same way and we will look to stifle them.

“We have got plenty of firepower now, which we didn’t have last season.”

Nev Powell’s Aberystwyth Town are looking to strengthen their top six standing with a victory at Caernarfon Town tonight.

Aberystwyth are fifth in the table, four points ahead of Caernarfon, who occupy the final place outside the top half.

Boss Powell said: “We know it’s a huge game against Caernarfon. If we can get a result it will put us in a really strong position.”

Cardiff Met entertain Llanelli and Barry visit Carmarthen tonight, while tomorrow sees Newtown host Llandudno.