Rock-bottom Macclesfield are out to kick start their season when they face fellow strugglers Loughborough Students.
And coach Geoff Wappett knows that it’s a relegation 10-pointer as the second-bottom Students come to Priory Park.
"You win and take five points and it’s five points that they can’t have," he said. "We need to put daylight between us and them, that’s why we need to put them to the sword. We’ll have to be dominant in possession, keep theirs to a minimum and pressure them so that they can’t comfortably use the ball. It should be a hell of a game.
"We need a big crowd behind us and the players need to respond to the support. It’s the first time we’ve not got off to a good start at this level and it means we’ve got a long, hard season ahead of us."
Wappett, himself a former Loughborough scholar, expects a tough afternoon for his youthful charges as the University side will be even younger, enthusiastic and well-drilled.
"There, PE is key and they work hard at keeping in shape all week," he added. "They are able to attract some of the best young players around and while they’ve got an abundance of talent their experience can be limited from one year to the next.
"We’ve got a young squad ourselves. I was mindful in the summer that I need another, experienced back to use his composure to guide the lads around him."
Frankie Barker, who may have suffered a concussion in Saturday’s loss to Rosslyn Park, is their only injury worry ahead of the relegation dogfight.
