PEWSEY Vale will be looking to return to winning ways when they travel to lowly Wiltshire rivals Malmesbury Vics in the Hellenic League Division One West on Saturday, kick off 2.15pm.

Don Rogers' side, defeated at fellow promotion chasers Middle Barton in their last outing on December 8, saw their home fixture with Shrivenham frozen off on Saturday.

They are currently sixth in the Division One West table and are handily placed for a promotion push in the New Year.

Conversely, Malmesbury have been unable to repeat the success achieved last season under the guidance of former boss Lester Foxall and sit in second from bottom position with just one league victory all season.

The two sides met at Pewsey's Recreation Ground on August 21, with the hosts winning 1-0 courtesy of a Leo Ross strike.

Pewsey boss Rogers is hoping for a more convincing scoreline in the corresponding fixture on Saturday.

He said: "We are a bit different now. I didn't have my two strikers or three of my midfielders that night."

Malmesbury boss John Norris, who lost several key figures when he took charge of the Vics in the summer, believes his side will raise their game for the visit of Pewsey.

He said: "We seem to pull out our better performances when we play the better sides.

"We played Purton and only lost 1-0 on Saturday and I felt we deserved to take something out of it. When we went to Pewsey earlier this season, their goalkeeper was exceptional and kept them in front.

"I'm looking forward to the return game and am just hoping their keeper isn't as inspired this time. They're going well but we have nothing to lose and are going to go for it. We're scrapping for every point at the moment and it will be the same on Saturday."

Malmesbury will go into the derby still searching for their first home victory of the season.