WEYMOUTH boss Brian Stock backed the Terras to raise their game for the visit of second-placed Hartlepool United tomorrow (3pm).
Stock’s men last tasted Vanarama National League victory at Stockport on Halloween and have slipped to 21st – eight points off safety.
However, in beating Stockport away and giving runaway leaders Torquay a scare in a late 4-3 loss, Weymouth have proven themselves against the league’s top teams.
The Terras have also upped their training regime this week, adding a Wednesday night session, as Stock looks to increase players’ fitness for his preferred high press style of play.
Speaking to Echosport, he said: “Hartlepool have had a string of four wins in four games and they’ve had a change of formation (to 3-5-2).
“It’s a formation where, if things are going well, it’s a hard one to combat but we’ve done well against the so-called bigger teams in form.
“Whether that’s a psychological thing, I don’t know. It’s a work in progress, but we go into the game with all the positives of recent results against teams that are flying high.
“We raise our game against the top teams, but we still have to play teams in and around us – Barnet, Dover, Dagenham, King’s Lynn.
“We’ve still got 28 games left. There’s plenty of football to be played.”
Stock stressed that Weymouth’s group remains positive despite a long wait for a league win.
“They need to understand how close they’ve come in games against teams with good experience at this level and have more at their disposal in terms of budgets and contact time,” he said.
“Results haven’t gone our way, but we need to reinforce the positives.”
Weymouth will miss out on their pursuit of ex-Norwich winger Pierre Fonkeu, who may look to move abroad, but are closing in on the capture of at least one forward-minded player.
Jake McCarthy (suspension) returns to bolster the Terras’ midfield, while striker Christian Saydee is available after self-isolation.
Brennan Camp (knee) and Ben Thomson (ankle) are doubts, although Myles Anderson (ribs) and Josh Leslie-Smith (concussion) continue to be assessed.
The match will take place amid the backdrop of unrest over financial support for National League clubs, with officials meeting today to discuss the issue.
