The New Saints manager Scott Ruscoe believes his squad is big enough to cope with two crucial Cymru Premier League clashes in three days.

First up, his side will travel to Penybont on Saturday (2.30pm) before Tuesday night’s grudge match with champions Connah’s Quay Nomads at Park Hall (7.45pm).

Ruscoe admits his squad depth has convinced him he can rotate his side on the trip to Bridgend with a top of the table clash on the horizon only a few days later.

“I will be picking a team that can go out and win the game but with one eye on Nomads the following game,” said Ruscoe, who oversaw a 10-0 win over Flint United last weekend.

“We have a big squad and even with two or three long-term injuries we can have players who play one week and have a rest the next week as there are players with the quality to step in.

“It’s down to how Penybont go about their job – will they try to match us, what will need to do to stop their quality in certain areas of the pitch.

“I’ve got to have a look in detail at them which I’ll be doing this week and then we have to plan for the Tuesday after.

“Luckily we’re at home because it’s not the same as Nomad’s pitch and maybe deal with as many long balls.

“But again, it’s about how Nomads are going to set up, but we need to have the answers before the next two games.

“They are two really important games at different ends of the spectrum.

“Penybont have made a decent start – they have great team spirit, stick together and have a young, ambitious manager in Rhys Griffiths.

“Saturday will be very important but then obviously we have got Connah’s Quay at home and we don’t need extra motivation for that.”

However, Ruscoe brushed off suggestions that the clash with Connah’s Quay – who were declared champions after the annulment of 2019/20 because of Covid-19 – is a must-win fixture.

But he did concede that staying ahead of his rivals is vital.

He said: “It’s too early to be must-win.

“If you look at our record at home to them, I don’t think we’ve lost and our last draw was 1994.

“What happened last season means the players don’t need any more motivation to go and dominate the game and get three points.

“But you could say we need to win this game because Nomads, Bala Town and Barry Town United will win the majority of their games but when we play against these teams, we need to pick up maximum points.

“The other teams around aren’t picking up maximum points against them.

“Hopefully we will be at our best and have a few important players back for it.”