The New Saints boss Scott Ruscoe insists the message to his players ahead of this weekend’s crucial clash with Connah’s Quay Nomads is: get the win!

Saints head to Deeside knowing that a win will take them top of the Welsh Premier League once more and with a game in hand, can build a four-point lead at the top.

And while he’s expecting a tough test at the league leaders, Ruscoe is backing his full squad of stars to come back with the win.

“We were top last week and then 24 hours later, Nomads played and went back top, so I will be saying to them to go and get that victory and go back top again,” he said.

“I want them to go out there and show them how good they are, and then see what happens there. We can only prepare each week for the game we’re about to play.

We’ll work on the strengths and weaknesses that Connah’s Quay have got – you could say that it is just like any other game but yes we know that it’s a hugely important game.

“In terms of a performance, it’s always very difficult to get a good one in those conditions and on that pitch.

“If we get three points, then that’s all that matters.

“We’ll be going there with as a full a squad as possible and people have had a rest.

“We’ve got a big squad and we were only able to name five on the bench, and Christian Seargeant is back in training, which is good.

“Aeron Edwards got a run out yesterday too which was great – he got 25 minutes which is really important. Blaine will be back next week too as we were able to give him a rest on Saturday just so he could be ready for next week.

“Hopefully, Simon Spender will be back in training towards the mid-part of the week, so hopefully everyone will be training come midweek.”

Ruscoe knows Nomads will prove to be their hardest test in the league so far, and while he knows former Saints star Michael Wilde will give them headaches, he expects his side to stand up to the test.

He added: “We know that Wildey has been a top player, because he was at TNS for so long.

“He’s a great target man and he can create goals from nowhere.

“He’s great in the air and he’s really dangerous from set-pieces but we’ll be aware of that.

“But no-one will get special treatment while we won’t be taking them lightly at all.

“We’ve just got to make sure we stand up to them as they’ve not going to pass through us.

“They will be physical and make it uncomfortable for us so we have to make sure we focus on our passing game and take our chances when we get them.”

Saturday’s kick-off is at 5.15pm.