TNS welcome Mid Wales rivals Newtown to Park Hall tonight (Friday) with the stakes high.

The Robins make the trip across the border with confidence soaring after a festive double over Aberystwyth Town sealed a top six place with two games remaining before the mid-season split.

Meanwhile TNS ended 2018 on a high with 10 goals over two games against Cefn Druids putting their title bid back on track.

Both sides will be looking to maintain their bright festive form on Friday.

Saints manager Scott Ruscoe knows victory against their bogey side could see TNS return to the top of the table while defeat at the hands of Chris Hughes’ men would see Connahs Quay Nomads and Barry Town United able to capitalise at the top.

“Friday is a really important game for us as Newtown have taken far too many points off us recently so that’s something we’ll have to put to bed,” said Ruscoe who began his Welsh Premier career with Newtown.

“The game is important for us because it’s fair to say the way the Christmas fixtures have gone for us as Barry and Connah’s Quay should have won their games.

“We’re only a point behind Barry and just two points Nomads. We’ve got to play them both twice and they have to play each other. “

The festive results have underlined Ruscoe’s pre Christmas insistence the Saints title bid remained very much alive despite a faltering defence which see Nomads and Barry lead the table.

In fact the Druids double has further enforced Ruscoe’s belief the Saints will defend the title.

However first comes the visit of a Newtown side whose excellent season has been founded on an unbeaten home league record and free flowing football which has won plaudits across the league.

While Ruscoe will always hold a place for the Latham Park club close to his heart the Saints boss insisted Friday night was too important for sentimentality with the title now on the line.

“I’m not worried at all, especially if we keep playing like we have against Cefn over the two festive games,” said Ruscoe. “We only had a few chances against Cefn but we took them, and if Greg Draper takes his at the end, which we does nine times out of 10, then it’s 4-0.

“We dominated possession without carving them open so if you think of the goals we scored, especially Ryan’s and Aeron’s first one, which for me was a 50/50 chance, then games will be done.

“If we are professional, keep moving the ball about then I don’t think we’ve got too much to worry about,” added Ruscoe.

Meanwhile the JD Welsh Premier transfer window has opened with TNS linked to several players with no business completed at the time the County Times went to press on Wednesday night.

TNS have already loaned veteran goalkeeper Connor Roberts and teenage midfielder Ben Clark to JD Welsh Premier strugglers Llandudno and this week agreed a season long loan deal for 17 year old academy product Aaron Lloyd who has joined Huws Gray Alliance side Guilsfield.