IT’S a case of top versus next-to-bottom tomorrow as Huddersfield embark on their New Year programme with the most difficult away trip to runaway National II North leaders Stourbridge Saxons (3.00).

“We know it’s going to be a difficult game, but there is no pressure on us because I think everyone will have written us off already,” said Huddersfield’s head coach Dan Hyde.

“Over the last few weeks I’d like to feel we have turned a corner and there is currently a bit of a feel-good factor within the side, especially after a good result over Luctonians and then running Otley so close in the final game before Christmas.

“We are going down there with a few objectives in mind and we’ll see what we can achieve.

“I know Stourbridge are unbeaten so far, but if they underestimate us, or perhaps have an off-day, you never know what might happen.”

One possible plus for Hyde and his team comes in the shape of a new recruit from French super club Toulouse.

“We have signed Julien Lassere for a trial period. He has come up through the junior system at Toulouse, and more recently has been playing for a club over in Ireland,” added Hyde.

“Julien is a winger/full-back and he’s coming over to the UK today with the Toulouse team, so we’re hoping to include him in the squad for tomorrow’s game.”

The Midlands side were relegated from National I last season and have recruited strongly with the aim of going straight back up, which even though it is only just over halfway through the season, already looks a given.

They are currently unbeaten, having won all 16 matches, during which they have amassed 618 points, and conceded just 213. And with 16 bonus points in the bag to give them a hefty total of 80 League points, they are already 19 points clear of nearest rivals Hull Ionians, although the Humbersiders do have a game in hand.

Huddersfield entertained the Saxons, third up this season, losing 33-7 at Lockwood Park.

There are still one or two question marks over some of Huddersfield’s team, therefore Hyde has named a squad to travel down to the Midlands.

Huddersfield: (from): Owen; Lassere, Moon, Clark, Paxman, Booth; Coles, Hinchliffe, Battye, Murphy, Stringwell, N Rhodes, G Rhodes, Hinchliff, Lewis, Hoyle, Sharpe, Sanderson, Duffy.