STOKE GABRIEL manager Russell Musker said his priority is turning around the team's 'crisis of confidence' as they host Axminster Town on Saturday (3pm).

Musker's side have drifted out of contention for the Division One East title, currently sitting nine points behind leaders Liverton United.

This weekend's tie against bottom-of-the-table Tigers looks like an ideal opportunity to boost their confidence levels – but Musker admits he thought the same before their last outing, which they lost 3-2.

He said: "I thought Sidmouth Town was a good one to have, but it didn't turn out that way – we've got a bit of a crisis of confidence and we need to turn that around pretty sharpish."

Musker is hoping to bring back Karl Baker this Saturday, as he has recovered from ankle ligament damage, and has an otherwise full-strength side.

There were no tricks to improving confidence easily, said Musker, and it may be as simple as a convincing victory.

He said: "It's a difficult one – if you go out and have a good game and keep a clean sheet then it could be as simple as that, but it does take hard work on behalf of the players. But sometimes people try even harder, and the harder they try the worse it gets.

"I think it's down to hard work at the end of the day, and that's something which my players have done over the last few weeks."

LIVERTON UNITED joint-manager Tony Bowker has been hit by suspensions to Simon Lewcock and Liam McAuley ahead of their clash at home to Crediton United on Saturday (3pm).

While Lewcock's ban is for accumulated yellow cards, McAuley will serve the first part of a three-match ban this weekend.

McAuley's multi-match suspension is part of a five-game punishment for comments made to the referee at the end of their clash with Teignmouth – with two games of the suspension 'suspended'.

On the plus side for Liverton is the return of centre-half Rob Farkins from an overseas deployment as a serviceman, and a potential debut for new signing Stuart Bowker up front.

The division-wide postponement due to bad weather was no bad thing for Liverton last weekend, as they were already without a game.

Manager Bowker said: "It worked out for us really, with us not having a game – nobody else was able to make any ground on us."

Aside from the league, Crediton United are the only other Division One East side in the Throgmorton Cup, and they still have to play their re-arranged third-round tie against Launceston. Defeat there and Bowker's men would pick up £300 in prize money without kicking a ball.

The club could do with the cash as they are aiming to put up floodlights and a new stand for their Premier Division promotion bid, which is costing around £45,000.

Car boot sales are also being held every Saturday morning at their Halford ground from 9am to help raise money.

On the pitch, Bowker said the team had '11 cup finals' to play in order to secure the league title.

"They are all trying to beat us and we've got to stay focused," he said.

"It might sound like a cliché, but we've got to take every game as it comes – we've got 11 cup finals now."

GALMPTON UNITED joint-manager Steve Parkin is praying for warmer weather ahead of his side's clash at Exeter Civil Service on Saturday (3pm).

The Greens have now been two weeks without a game, as last weekend's big freeze was preceded by a Saturday off for his team.

Another postponement this weekend and Parkin believes there could be 'fall-out' in terms of match sharpness.

"It's now two weeks without a game, which makes it difficult for us if this weekend goes off as well – you can have a bit of fall out in terms of not starting properly when you do get out there.

"If there is a lot of rain this week and then a cold spell it could be called off as Exeter's pitch does hold a lot of water – but we hope it's on as we don't want to have three weeks without a game."

NEWTON Abbot Spurs are missing vice-captain Kris Davis ahead of their clash at home to Okehampton on Saturday (3pm).

Davis is the only absentee to an otherwise full-strength Spurs side, who are aiming to avenge a defeat earlier in the season.

Despite Argyle staying around the top four for the entire season so far, Spurs boss Paul Dyson said he didn't see anything during their last clash which made their opponents stand out.

"We met them very early in the season and they beat us 2-1, but I felt we deserved a point if not to win the game as we dominated.

"It looks like they might have improved since then, but we're doing ok so it's a game we feel we can win."

The only concern for the home side is the condition of the pitch, with the reserves due to play their Herald Cup clash on Friday night ahead of the first team's Saturday afternoon tie.

"We're hoping for some decent weather this week so that the pitch doesn't cut up," added Dyson.

TOTNES and Dartington are away to Budleigh Salterton this Saturday (3pm), while Teignmouth have an enforced break this weekend as they are without a league or cup game.