CRAIG Phelan believes Oakmere are sturdier this season and is confident they are ready for their biggest game of the season so far this weekend.

Stockport Trinity, who lead the way in Cheshire League Division Two with an unblemished record, are the visitors to Overdale Lane on Saturday.

They will be greeted by hosts who have also won each of their six matches to date.

An impressive six-wicket win at Ashley last time out leaves the Northwich team just five points adrift in the table.

Phelan said: “We passed a test last week.

“Ashley pushed us harder than anybody else has, and we still came out on top.

“For me, as captain, it was satisfying to see guys wanting to dig in – something we’ve worked so hard to instil in the past couple of seasons.

“We identified these two games as ones that might shape the first half of our season, and to have won one already has been a boost to the guys’ confidence.”

A gap to Chelford, in third place, is 32 points already.

However Phelan told the Guardian it is too early in the campaign for calculations.

Instead he wants his side, in which overseas signing Slade Mitrovich has impressed after amassing more than 200 runs, to focus on getting the most from an important game.

He said: “It’s not a must-win, but I’d like us not to lose if we can’t prevail.

“That would give further reassurance that we’re stronger than previously.

“The lads are enjoying themselves, and that means they’re relaxed. It’s why they’re playing well – it’s a simple formula.

“That’s what the message will be because we’re not under pressure.

“A lot of work was done over the winter to make sure we were as prepared as possible to start strongly – and that’s what we’ve done.”

Oakmere won three of their first half-dozen games in 2017, but lost the other three.

It left them playing catch-up, and even a 10-match winning run couldn’t bridge a gap to those in front of them.

Phelan added: “Nobody wins any trophies in May, we know that.

“But you can find yourselves too far adrift, and that’s something we wanted to address.

“We’ll take stock again at half-way, when we’ve had a look at everybody, and work out what we need to do from there.

“For now, we’ll worry about Trinity who I expect to be a strong opponent.”

Play starts on Saturday at 1pm.