SELBY Warriors ARLC boss Pete Gudgeon has backed his team to avoid relegation from Pennine League division three despite their recent woes.

The Warriors have only one league win to their credit this term and sit at the bottom of the table, four points below Littleborough.

It got worse as they had their only points deducted after failing to raise a side for their game at leaders Bank Top a fortnight ago.

Gudgeon said that call-off was a blip caused by a sickness bug, and he is confident not only of fielding sides for the remainder of the season but also of winning enough games to climb the standings - starting on Saturday away to fellow strugglers Sharlston Rovers A'.

"We knew we were going to be stretched that weekend and then, with this illness and flu going round, we could not send a side out," he said.

"But the previous week, we fielded probably our strongest squad all season.

"We didn't have a game last weekend, now we're at home to Sharlston and we should be okay to field a good side for that.

"I'm looking to pick up a number of victories over the rest of the season.

"The lads have been training fairly well and we play some of the weaker sides in the division.

"There are a number of sides down there and, unless the league has a restructure, there'll be only one team going down as Elland A' dropped out at the start of the season.

"I'm pretty confident that we will be in the mix at the end.

"There are a good two or three wins left in us which should hopefully see us stay up."