Ottery St Mary travel to Halwill for their latest Fresha League Division Five outing on Saturday (February 20).

The Otters have a real opportunity to force their way into a promotion berth over the next three weeks during which time they have home and away meetings with second bottom Halwill with a trip to fourth bottom Starcross Generals in between!

If the Otters have been feeling the pinch in terms of no regular action – they have played three games since December 12 - then Saturday’s opposition are considerably ‘under-cooked’ for they have played just two games in the 13 weeks that have elapsed since November 21!

Halwill have lost each one of their last six games, shipping no fewer than 39 goals! They last won on October 10, when they defeated Alphington thirds 3-1.

Ottery boss Dave Fairweather says: “I think the lads have had enough of training now and just want to get on with the business of playing – and that certainly goes for the Reserves who have not kicked a ball in anger on any of the last eight Saturday’s!”

As for the Halwill match, Fairweather says: “We are missing a few, but the fact a couple are out offers a great opportunity to someone else.”

With regular glovesman Duncan Smith one of the absentees it means more stand-in goalkeeping work for outfield player Toby Harris. Adam Harris and Ben Rushton are also missing.

Fairweather says: “We will mix and match for I am keen to make sure that both teams are suitably prepared for their respective games. As I have said before, I am keen for us to operate as one club and if that is to happen then we need to make sure that the team we send to Cranbrook for the second team fixture is as capable of getting a result as the one we are sending to Halwill is going to be.”