HUW GRIFFITHS believes competition for places can help Cefn Druids produce a strong finish to the season.

The Ancients eased the threat of relegation last weekend by securing a 3-1 home win over Aberystwyth that moved them nine points clear of the drop zone.

That match saw Alec Mudimu, Jordan Evans and Arek Piskorski reduced to cameos from the bench, while Fisnik Hajdari was an unused substitute and the suspended Nathan Peate and injured James Davies were not involved at all.

The duo are set to return, while Jonny Taylor and Alun Morris, both of whom were left out of the squad to face Aberystwyth, staking their claims for inclusion with solid performances in the Newfa Challenge Cup quarter-final success over Brymbo on Tuesday.

Griffiths, who takes his team to Carmarthen on Saturday, knows the fight for shirts will keep people on their toes.

He said: "I am going to have to start leaving really, really good players out of the squad.

"It's a great position to be in because the players know they've got to perform if they want to play.

"It's the strongest squad I've managed at Cefn Druids by a long shot."

Druids will climb above Carmarthen into ninth position if they secured victory at Richmond Park after the Old Gold had three points deducted for field an ineligible player.

But Griffiths knows winning will be easier said, than done.

"We've got to get the ball down and play," said Griffiths. "It's important that we try to outmanoeuvre them because it will be a struggle to physically dominate them."

One man Druids will have to keep a close eye on is Old Gold striker Liam Thomas, who is top of the league’s scoring charts alongside Steve Tames and Greg Draper.

Thomas took his goal tally to 17 for the season with a hat-trick in last weekend’s 3-0 win over Llanelli.

Griffiths said: “He’s a decent player. He’s powerful and he drifts into areas. He suits the way they play with Mark Jones - another player we need to deal with - bringing others into play.”

Carmarthen boss Neil Smothers, meanwhile, is looking up, not down despite the points deduction.

"We want to get as many points as we can to see where that takes us," he said. "If it’s enough to catch Cardiff Met or Aberystwyth, I’m not sure, but we want to try and get as many points as we can."