MARTIN BURGER has warned Northop that Connah’s Quay have “fire in the belly” as they go in search of a long-awaited first league win of the season.

Quay go into the home clash with their Flintshire rivals having come agonisingly close to pulling off a memorable derby victory over Pontblyddyn six days ago.

Having been bowled out for 141, Pontblyddyn cruised to 87 without loss, before Quay mounted a remarkable comeback that ended with the home side crossing the line with just one wicket and three overs remaining.

Captain Burger believes that performance can help inspire his team to a strong end to the campaign.

“We can take confidence from last week,” said Burger. “It would be great to get that first win of the season at home.

“We are really looking forward to the game and there is fire in the belly after last week.

“We won’t under-estimate Northop, who are a very good team, and it should be a really good game.”

Northop are also heading into the clash at Central Park on a winning note after recording a 53-run home against Denbigh.

Jordan Evans starred with the bat as he struck a 98-ball 109 to help Northop recover from 66 for five to post 208 for eight, before Matthew Mullarkey claimed 6-22 to dismiss Denbigh for 155.

And team manager Dale Harley doesn’t want Northop to be the first team to suffer defeat at the hands of Connah’s Quay, who have lost all 14 matches this season.

“We will go to Connah’s Quay in the right frame of mind,” said Harley, who sees the returning James Birch and Bart Beswick replace Ben Beaver and Harry Lewis in tomorrow’s XI.

“We don’t want to be the first team that loses to them this season and we won’t be taking them lightly because they are showing some signs of form.”

Quay are boosted by the return of Tom Hooson and Dylan Stout, while Rob Bennett is available for selection after taking time away from the game.

Pontblyddyn will be looking to build on their crucial success against Connah’s Quay as they head to seventh-placed Pwllheli, who are 36 points above their visitors.

Captain Glenn Chambers and his side know a win can drag Pwllheli back into the scrap at the bottom of the table.

“We needed to win that game against Connah’s Quay or our confidence would have been really low,” said Chambers.

“If we’d lost the game it wouldn’t have been good at all.

“But now we’ve won the game we can be confident going forward and take that into this weekend.

“We showed guts and maturity to win an important game that had a very tight finish.”

Opening batsman Ali Roberts, who top scored with 48 as Pontblyddyn edged past Connah’s Quay, Chris Myles and key bowler Chris Moss, described as “really tough to face” six days ago by Burger, are unavailable to make the trip to Parc Bodegroes.

Brymbo are looking to drag St Asaph into the scrap for survival with a crucial away win over their out of form hosts.

The Saints have lost their last five matches to slide down the table towards the bottom two, with Brymbo now just 29 points adrift of their next opponents.

Captain James Claybrook wants to turn up the pressure on St Asaph, but he knows that there is plenty of talent amongst the home side’s XI.

“St Asaph have found it difficult of late, so we know if we can put in a compete performance we can get back to winning ways and put a bit of pressure on them at the bottom of the table,” said Claybrook. “But they are dangerous young team and we know that it takes one game for it to click back into place.”

Brymbo go into the encounter buoyed by recent performances against three of the top four sides in the division - Bangor, Menai Bridge and Llandudno.

The Wrexham-based outfit have suffered three defeats, but there have been plenty of positives for Claybrook, none more so than his side’s improved batting displays.

Gareth Pugh struck 87 as Brymbo finished on 232 for nine chasing 257 for victory against Llandudno last weekend.

“It was another very encouraging performance for us,” said Claybrook. “Our batting had let us down in the first half of the season, but some of the lads are coming into form at the right time and scores over 200 is what we need to be aiming for.”

Brymbo make one change for the trip to Elwy Grove Park as Ioan Craven Jones replaces Wayne Smith.

Gresford, meanwhile, are looking to dent Bangor’s title challenge by picking up a home win tomorrow.

Dan Williams’ men welcome the leaders having cruised to a nine-wicket win over St Asaph last week.

“We’re very much a momentum team and when we’re going well I’d fancy us against anyone in the league,” said Williams, who is expecting an interesting title race over the remaining weeks of the season, adding: All three teams at the top - Bangor, Menai Bridge and Mochdre - have played very well, but there is a long way to go, and with the league being as competitive as it is, I’m sure there will be some upsets from now till the end of the season.”

Simon Perry returns for Gresford in place of Ryan Williams.

Elsewhere, Menai visit Llandudno and Mochdre host Denbigh.

Other fixtures - Division One: Abergele v Conwy; Bethesda v Carmel and District; Hawarden Park v Llay Welfare; Llanrwst v Gwersyllt Park; Mold v Bersham; Ruthin v Dolgellau.

Division Two: Corwen v Halkyn; Llay Welfare 2nds v Brymbo 2nds; Marchwiel and Wrexham v Mochdre 2nds; Menai Bridge 2nds v Gresford 2nds; Northop 2nds v Buckley.

Division Three: Buckley 2nds v Pwllheli 2nds; Carmel and District 2nds v Gwersyllt Park 2nds; Denbigh 2nds v Mold 2nds; Mynydd Isa and Maeshafn 2nds v St Asaph 2nds; Pontblyddyn 2nds v Connah’s Quay 2nds.

Division Four: Caernarfon v Rhewl; Conwy 2nds v Llanrwst 2nds; Dolgellau 2nds v Ruthin 2nds; Halkyn 2nds v Marchwiel and Wrexham 2nds; Llangollen v Llandudno 2nds.