ANDY MORRISON insists Connah's Quay Nomads will be ready for whatever Aberystwyth Town have to throw at them tonight.

Nomads go into the clash on top of the table, but wary of the threat posed by Nev Powell's hosts, who have a place in the top six firmly in their sights.

Aberystwyth are one of three teams fighting for the final top half spot - Powell's men a point behind current incumbents Caernarfon - making them dangerous opposition.

"It's going to be a tough one," said Morrison, who was at Latham Park as Newtown beat Aberystwyth 2-1 to secure their own top six spot. "I went to Newtown on Sunday and I thought Aber were very, very good.

"I thought the result was not the right result, I thought they were as good, if not better, than Newtown.

"Newtown scored fantastic goals at the right times and then for large periods Aberystwyth dominated the game."

If the weekend's viewing was not enough to convince Morrison that his side need to be at their best this evening, then the former Manchester City captain only needs to cast his mind back almost 12 months ago.

Nomads' last trip Park Avenue resulted in a 4-2 defeat to the Flintshire outfit, Morrison saying: "I know how difficult it is.

We went there last year and were beat 4-2, so it is always a tough place to play.

"But we will be ready to go."

Nomads make the journey on the back of a 4-1 home victory over Bala Town, a result that saw them return to the summit.

Goals from Michael Wilde, Michael Parker, Andy Owens and Michael Bakare secured the points for Nomads, and left Morrison purring over some of his side's attacking play.

He said: "I keep asking for better quality, asking for the players to show what good footballers they are - taking the easy option when it's the right option, but show me a bit of quality when you get in the final third.

"A little bit of disguise, a little bit of guile and seeing the picture a little bit quicker."

Former Nomads boss Powell, meanwhile, knows his side have to return to winning ways sooner rather than later with just two games remaining before the split.

"There are still two games to go and while we can still do it we will keep striving and working hard," said Powell, who has seen his team lose their last four matches in a five-game winless run.

"We've got to pick ourselves up. There are two games to go and anything can happen in this league.

"We tend to do well against the top sides. We've got Connah's Quay at home and Barry away - you couldn't really ask for tougher games than that.

"We've got to stay positive and get the lads up. There is still a lot to play for even if we don't make the top six.

"That seventh place gets you a European play-off spot, so if we can't do it we need to make sure we get as many points on the board as we can."

Colin Caton hailed Bala Town’s top-six qualification as ‘fantastic’.

The Lakesiders were beaten 4-1 at league leaders Connah’s Quay Nomads on New Year’s Day, but it mattered little after Newtown’s victory over Aberystwyth secured a top-half place for Bala when the league splits.

Boss Caton was delighted, saying: “It’s great considering the quality in the league, with Barry, Connah’s Quay and TNS.

“It’s fantastic for the size of the club. People take it as a given for me to qualify for the top-six, but it’s not a given to me. It’s a battle to get into the top-six.

“When you look at the clubs we have to compete against, we have done fantastically well.

“I don’t think that people realise what we are up against.”

Steve Tames looks set to return from suspension for Bala as they visit Cardiff Met tomorrow, although Mike Hayes, pictured, could miss out once more through injury.

The New Saints moved to within two points of the lead over the festive period, which has left boss Scott Ruscoe bullish about retaining the title.

“The league is in our own hands,” said Ruscoe ahead of tonight’s home clash with Newtown. “You have to play teams twice and they have to play each other, so people will drop points.

“We just need to make sure the momentum is with us and we tidy up the mistakes we have made.”

Elsewhere, there’s a relegation ‘six-pointer’ between Llanelli and Llandudno tomorrow.