NEW Saints manager Scott Ruscoe could ring the changes in their opening Irn-Bru Scottish Challenge Cup clash against Queens Park on Saturday night.

The Oswestrians have come to the end of a brutal first few games of the season which has featured both UEFA Champions League and Europa League matches as well as the start of their Welsh Premier League defence.

With some enforced changes coming, Ruscoe believes he might take the chance to freshen up the starting XI in a competition that has so far eluded TNS in their two years of participation.

“We will make a few changes and some are enforced,” said Ruscoe who will be without Ben Cabango who has been called up to the Welsh under 19s training camp.

“Ben will be away this week so obviously we will have someone who can come in and replace him. We’ve got forwards who need playing time so we will have a look at that as well, and see which midfielders need a rest,” said Ruscoe. “The squad is good enough to cope with the changes.”

Ruscoe has done his homework on the Scottish Division Two side and expected his side to progress.

“They drew on Saturday but they are mid-table in the second division and I am happy to go on record and say that if we are at out best then the tie should be winnable.

“If we’re not at it, then we’ll struggle but we go into the weekend on the back of two good wins and on a bit of a roll.

“When you get momentum going and the lads are firing on all cylinders, it’s good. We’ve forgotten about Europe now and it’s all about the league.

Ruscoe has targeted another good run in the cross border competition.

“It is good to be playing this now as it’s a cup we want to do well in. It won’t be an easy ride that we can win by just turning up and we all remember Dumbarton in last year’s semi-final.”

The Saints will also be in action in midweek with a Mid Wales derby at home to Aberystwyth Town on Tuesday evening as they look to maintain their bright start to the season.