NIALL MCGUINNESS says there’s a “buzz around the camp” as Flint Town United look to blow the title race wide open with victory at Prestatyn Town.

The Silkmen trail the table toppers by 13 points, but with two games in-hand, and a win at Bastion Gardens on Saturday afternoon will put McGuinness’ men right back in the title hunt.

“A win is very much needed,” said Flint boss McGuinness. “If we want to mount any sort of challenge then we need to win.

“If we do win it’s still in their control, but we have to win to be able to put them under a bit more pressure.”

Flint lost the first meeting between the two teams at the Essity Stadium back in October as Prestatyn claimed a tense 3-2 win.

A penalty miss from Richie Foulkes proved costly during a match packed with incident.

McGuinness, who was sent-off on the stroke of half time, labelled it the “toughest defeat I’ve had to take as a manager”.

Defeat was equally as disappointing for McGuinness’ playing staff, who will use the heartbreak of October’s clash as motivation.

“It still sits with the players,” said McGuinness with reference to October’s defeat. “In the weeks after I spoke with the players and a lot of them said it was the worst they’d felt after a defeat, so we feel like we owe them one.”

Leaders Prestatyn have only dropped 10 points this season, but McGuinness has done his homework on Neil Gibson’s men, the Flint boss looking to take advantage of any perceived weakness he’s spotted.

“They’ve got obvious strengths, but they’ve got weaknesses as well, just like any team,” said McGuinness. “We know we need to be at it to beat them, but we are confident we can cause them some problems.

“It’s a game that I don’t think I need to get the lads up for and we are all massively excited for the match. If you can’t get yourself up for a game of this importance then there’s no point in playing.”

The versatile Danny Andrews is the only absentee for Flint, McGuinness adding: “It’s good to have so many options available to me.”

While the top two teams are doing battle, it’s third versus fourth as Colwyn Bay make their way to Guilsfield.

Just a point separates the duo heading into the clash at Clos Mytton with third placed Bay five adrift of Flint.

Seagulls boss Craig Hogg reckons Guilsfield will be looking to climb above his side with victory tomorrow, before using their game in-hand to try and catch Flint.

Hogg said: “They have games in hand on us so I’m sure they will be looking at this one with a view to going above us and then catching Flint.”

It’s also fifth versus sixth as Bangor City, unbeaten in five matches, make their way to Llanrhaeadr and seventh placed Conwy Borough, who have seen Warren Gibbs step down as director of football, visit Penrhyncoch, who are eighth.