THE finish line is in sight for Rylands, but there is still plenty to do.

With less than a third of the season remaining, the prospect of securing back-to-back promotions remains a very real one.

Blues have not lost a league game since January 11 – a run that has catapulted them up to second in the North West Counties League Premier Division.

With the top three earning promotion, they have put themselves in a great position but skipper Gary Kenny, who led last year’s glorious First Division South title win, knows the mission is far from complete.

Saturday’s opponents Longridge Town may sit four places and 10 points behind Blues, but their five games in hand makes them a big threat.

They also boast the division’s leading goalscorer in the shape of striker Paul Turner, who has hit the net 33 times in league and cup this season.

The reverse fixture saw Blues hammered 4-1 in October, but Kenny has warned Longridge they will be facing a different side altogether when they arrive at Gorsey Lane.

“I think we’ve got to look at ourselves really and what we can do,” he said.

“I think when we went there earlier in the season we focused too much on their strengths and we came unstuck.

“We know they’re a good side and we know to a man, we’re going to have to be sharp for that game.

“We just need to turn up with the attitude we’ve had in the last eight weeks and we’ll be all right.”

Blues go into the game having seen their seven-match winning run ended by Litherland REMYCA – the division’s bottom side – on Saturday.

Centre-half Kenny scored his side’s opener at Gorsey Lane but REMYCA came back to earn a 1-1 draw and upset the formbook somewhat.

He insists there has to be a reaction from his side and he fully expects his teammates to deliver.

“We’re confident about it,” he said.

“With the players we have here, it’s hard not to be confident but you have to go on the pitch and do it and we didn’t do that on Saturday.

“It’s not a loss – we’ve come away with a point but we need to be massively better next week.

“If you look at this team, I don’t think they should need picking up.

“If you can’t get up for the game we have in front of us – Longridge at home, both sides gunning for promotion – then nothing’s going to get you up for it.

“We’ll cover a lot in the week – Macca (manager Dave McNabb) will make his points in training and they’ll be bang up for Longridge on Saturday.

“There has to be a reaction. If we play like that against Longridge next week, we’ll get turned over.

“Everyone will know that more desire and graft is needed.”

Kick off on Saturday is at 3pm.