Merthyr Town have the chance to step up their Evo-Stik Southern League promotion chance when they play struggling St Neots Town at Penydarren Park on Saturday (3pm).

This is the third of five successive Premier Division home fixtures for the Martyrs, who are fifth in the table and will climb one place with a home win.

That is because Hitchin Town and Chippenham, the two teams immediately ahead of them, are playing each other.

Merthyr follow their clash with St Neots by playing Cinderford Town on Boxing Day (1pm) and Redditch on Saturday, January 2 (3pm), all at Penydarren Park.

St Neots are facing a relegation battle for a second successive season. They have the third worst defensive record in the division with 50 goals conceded from 22 games.

They went out of the Southern League Challenge Cup in midweek, beaten 3-2 away by Division One Central side Aylesbury, and have conceded five goals in two out of their last three League games.

These have been a 5-2 defeat at Stratford last Saturday and 5-1 at home against Hayes and Yeading.

In between, they were held 1-1 at home by fellow relegation candidates Cirencester Town.

Leading scorers for St Neots are Declan Rogers and James Hall, who have 13 goals each in all competitions, however Hall may be doubtful for this game after limping off during the midweek defeat by Aylesbury.

Manager Gavin Williams has named the squad involved their 2-2 draw against Chippenham plus himself and Rhys Baggridge.

Kyle Patten has returned from a loan spell at Taffs Well and is also available.

Merthyr are still unbeaten at home, having earned four points from the last two games at Penydarren. They won 5-1 against Kings Langley and drew 2-2 against promotion rivals Chippenham when Ryan Prosser scored both goals.