TNS manager Scott Ruscoe has admitted his squad is feeling the strain ahead of their Mid Wales derby at Aberystwyth Town tonight (Friday).

Greg Draper’s penalty salvaged a point at Newtown last week to to keep the Saints a point clear at the top of the JD Welsh Premier. league table.

The Saints returned to winning ways with a routine 5-0 drubbing of Llandudno sealing a place in the semi-finals of the Nathaniel MG Cup in midweek.

Ruscoe confirmed the injury list was growing but insisted his squad was strong enough to cope.

“We we have injuries. Jamie Mullan, Aeron Edwards and Blaine Hudson all missed the Newtown game through injuries and Adrian Cieslewicz is still out.

“That’s four good players out so we couldn’t have changed the whole squad for midweek anyway.

“We’re getting to that point of the season were injuries may take that toll on us.”

While Ruscoe was disappointed to be held at Newtown the Saints chief insisted an inconsistent Aberystwyth Town should not prove so formidable.

“Aber are a bit of an inconsistent team but on their day they’ve got pace and experience,” said Ruscoe.

“I just feel that away from home on their nice 3G pitch, we need to be making amends for the draw on Saturday.

“We put six past them at Park Hall but we were really good on the night so we’ll be going into Saturday with positivity.

“We need to stretch teams more than what we do when we’re getting man marke and individuals to affect the game and not just as a team.

“There’s a fine line between trying too much and being too safe, and that’s what we want to see this week at Aberystwyth.”