NEWTOWN travel to traditional Mid Wales rivals Aberystwyth Town tonight (Friday) in a crunch derby battle.

Victory for the inform Robins, unbeaten in 2017, would douse the lingering spectre of relegation while also add to their old rivals growing fears.

The Seasiders sit just one place above the drop zone and two points clear of Rhyl and go into tonight’s derby with their unbroken top flight status under growing threat.

Newtown make the trip in great form having seen off a poor Airbus UK Broughton side last week.

“We perhaps gave them too much respect early on and it was very disappointing to concede from a set piece,” said manager Chris Hughes. “However we have learned to take our chances and dominated the rest of the game.

Hughes insisted the Robins would not look too far ahead with seventh spot their target.

“When you are in the bottom six your main aim is to keep out of the relegation zone,” said Hughes. “Nobody at this club wants to be in a relegation fight.

“We have set the standard in the last five games, performance wise and with results. We know what is required of us in this bottom six and results in previous weeks count for nothing now.”

Hughes insisted the mid-season break, unpopular in some quarters, aided the Robins cause this season.

“We didn't get too low when we were down the bottom, and we are not going to get too high when we are winning, because this is an unforgiving league.

“The break has helped give us a bit of freshness going into the game, and we want to kick on now,” said Hughes. “Aberystwyth will be a massive game for both sides.”

Midfielder Joe Kenton is a doubt after sustaining a broken nose from the elbow of Airbus defender Leon Clowes late in last week’s game.