DANNY Forrest finds himself in the rare position of having a full squad to choose from ahead of Silsden's most important week yet in their title bid.

The Cobbydalers have three home games in eight days, with visits from fellow promotion contenders Whitchurch Alport and Litherland REMYCA sandwiching a clash with Bacup Borough.

Forrest's team top the North West Counties League Division One by 12 points on the back of two successive wins and another successful week, particularly in games against their rivals, could prove decisive.

And they look set to be at full strength, with winger Will Storrie having successfully come through his first start after a long lay-off.

Forrest said: "The coming week could be pivotal. We can either let teams back in and that light at the end of the tunnel gets brighter for them.

"Or we can put more distance between us and the rest. Obviously, I'm not taking anything for granted and I don’t like to look too far ahead but if we can get good results it would put us in a great position.

"By no means would it be over but putting that distance in would be a massive step at this time of the season.

"However, if it isn’t to be and we don’t quite get the results then we are still in a good position going forward."

Key players Kyle Hancock and Mark Everingham are due back from injury, with Forrest saying: "For the first time all season, we might have a full set of players which causes me some headaches but good headaches.

"Even though we’ve done well this season, we’ve never had a full squad. But I'm under no illusions that football can change quickly and all sorts can happen. All of a sudden you can lose two or three in one week."

Storrie's appearance against Daisy Hill was his first start since he broke his leg at the end of March last season against Stockport. As well as completing his rehabilitation, he has been unavailable with work commitments but Forrest is hoping he has the winger back for the rest of the season.

He said: "I turned down potential signings knowing he’s coming back.

"He's still maybe not quite up to speed and I probably took a gamble playing him last Saturday but he was well suited to the game. He carries the ball well for a wide man, he can cover ground quickly with the ball and that’s what we needed on Saturday."

Silsden go into this crucial spell with confidence restored on the road, a 3-0 win at Daisy Hill making it back-to-back victories following a 6-0 hiding of Eccleshall at home.

The triumph at Daisy Hill ended a run of three straight defeats on their travels but their record at the Cobbydale Construction Stadium remains perfect with 12 out of 12 wins.

With their rivals playing catching up, Forrest is expecting both Whitchurch and Litherland to 'come and have a go'.

He said: "The pressure is on them and it is how they deal with that. I’ve got confidence in my lads, especially at home.

"We’ve had a good run and we've just got to keep churning the results out. As long as my lads apply themselves as they have these last couple of games, I’m hopeful that we’ll compete and come out with decent results."

A sizeable contingent from Shropshire-based Whitchurch are expected to travel to Silsden for Saturday's clash, which pits the division's most miserly defence against the most potent attack.

The visitors, who are the form team with seven wins on the bounce, have conceded just 15 goals while Silsden top the scoring charts with 69, leading scorer Joe Gaughan adding two more last time out to take his individual tally to 28.

Whitchurch trail Silsden by 19 points but have four games in hand. Forrest said: "They are a club that seem to have a buzz about them and have some momentum on and off the field.

"It will be a tough test. From what I know about them, I see their strengths in their attacking play – the wide men and the strikers.

"If they win those games in hand they could get to within seven points of us, so it is a big one."

Litherland, who trail by 12 points in second place with two games in hand, visit a week later but Forrest insists the visit of Bacup next Tuesday remains as important.

He said: "For me that is just as big as the others. They will provide a tough test, are quite a local team to us and are quite a stubborn outfit."