SKIPPER Matt Hughes says his Kirkby Lonsdale teammates are brimming with confidence ahead of this weekend's top-of-the-table clash against Birkenhead Park.

The Underley Park outfit will travel to the Wirral on Saturday searching to topple the league leaders and go top of North One West.

Currently sitting just one point behind their opponents and on a five game winning run, Kirkby Lonsdale fear nobody, says their captain.

"I know we are away at their place and they are top but we are only a point behind them," said Hughes. "We've beaten them once this season, we beat them at home last season and were unlucky not to win at their place last season.

"There is no pressure being put on us. We are treating it like any other game. As long as we turn up and do what we know we can do we should be fine. We know from the last few games against them that they are a big side who are well organised and have played in that league above so they do the basics very well.

"But our defence has been brilliant since the Kendal game so it's just a case as long as we step up and play our game then they haven't got anything to trouble us."

Even if Kirkby lose Hughes is confident it will not spell an end to their chances of lifting the trophy.

"There's still plenty of time to claw it back," he said. "Birkenhead and Kendal have still got to play each other on the last game of the season so that could end up being a decider for all three of us."

Kirkby battled to a 34-7 win over Eccles at the weekend but had to fight hard for the points after a solid first-half defensive showing from their opponents.

"They've got a few new lads in and really turned up," said Hughes.

"They were tough to break down in the first half. 0-0 would probably have been a fair scoreline at half-time but we were lucky to get in at 10-0 up.

"But we took our chances and started the second half stronger than them. Fitness and organisation probably told in the end."