The New Saints boss Scott Ruscoe says the spectre of his side’s League Cup semi-final defeat to Cambrian & Clydach is looming over potential changes for this weekend’s Welsh Cup clash with Llandudno Town.

TNS are overwhelming favourites to progress to the semi-finals when they travel to The Giant Hospitality Stadium after they returned to the summit of the Welsh Premier League with victory at Caernarfon Town on Monday night.

Saints made a number of changes when they travelled to south Wales before Christmas, only to lose in extra-time against their lowly opponents, leaving Ruscoe’s job in danger as Saints were stuck in a terrible run of form.

Since then, TNS have recorded eight wins from 10 league and cup games, conceding four, and Ruscoe is happy to make changes this time.

“We’re looking at a couple of positions but what we don’t want to do is fall short again,” he said.

“I don’t want to be in a position where we’ve made the mistake of too many changes again like I did in the semi-final of the League Cup final; it was too much.

“I’ve learned my lesson and I’ll make sure that if I make those changes, they will be ones that are comfortable enough for us to win the game with whoever comes into the side.

“And if do make those changes, I think the players will have learned their lesson about what is expected of them.

“We were not on a great run of the time if you remember, where we’d lost a few games.

“But if we make changes to the team this time, then look at the run we’ve been on.

“We haven’t lost since November and we’re on a great run in terms of goals scored too.

“We’ve won a lot of games too so you can look at it both ways – I’ve learned my lesson, the players have too and I don’t think we’re going to fall into that trap.”

Billy Whitehouse and Greg Draper combined for Saints’ third goal on Monday and Ruscoe says both players are in with a chance of starting at Llandudno on Saturday.

He added: “It was great to see Billy create a goal like that.

“That was the thinking of bringing him, asking to go and do that for us, be creative and he put it on a plate for Greg.

“We’re definitely tempted enough to start with Greg as part of three or four who deserves a chance against Llandudno.

“We’ll train hard this week and then we’ll have a look at the end of it to see what injuries we’ve got and then take it from there.”

The clash in Conwy kicks-off at 2.30pm and is one of three ties on the day.