MARK Saunders is pondering whether to return Danny Clay to his starting XI against Mangotsfield United on Saturday now the midfielder is free from suspension.

Clay was suspended after picking up consecutive red cards in matches against Cinderford Town and Bideford.

The midfielder missed the 3-1 win over Gosport Borough, the 1-1 draw at Thatcham Town and the 2-1 Devon St Luke's Bowl defeat of Bideford, with David Steele and Kevin Hill ably stepping into the breach.

"We do have Danny Clay back from suspension, so that is a positive point for us," said Saunders. "He'll just have to wait until Saturday to see who starts.

"We have managed to do really well without him in the side. We managed to beat a decent Gosport outfit with a very good performance.

"We also drew at Thatcham in what was a very difficult match, although we were also a little bit lucky to get something out of that.

"It was a very big pitch in difficult conditions so I think pretty much everybody struggled on that night.

"That is four points from a possible six and we have also made it through to a cup semi-final in his absence too so we haven't done badly.

"We are by no means a one-man team and we have a very good squad here where everybody is capable of starting games.

"I think perhaps we have missed his experience because he has plenty of that, but David Steele has been on good form and Kevin Hill did well when he came in."

Tiverton will be hoping for something like a repeat of the 5-0 drubbing they handed out to the Bristol outfit back in September.

That win kick-started a five-game unbeaten run for the Yellows, with Michael Nardiello helping himself to a double that day, while Harry Nodwell, Josh Searle and Hill also chipped in with goals.

And despite the Yellows being unbeaten in their last 10 games – before Saturday's postponement at home to Bishops Cleeve – Saunders has urged his side to be wary of their opponents this time around.

"Mangotsfield will be looking for revenge because we absolutely hammered them when we played them earlier in the season," said Saunders.

"They will be looking to set the record straight for that one and we have to be aware of that when we go there.

"But the way the lads are playing at the moment they should not be afraid of anybody in the division.

"I don't think they are under any pressure really. They are playing well and they just need to keep that going into our next game."

The Yellows' form is certainly a source of encouragement heading into the fixture, having not lost a game since the 2-1 reverse at home to Hungerford Town on December 10.

It is a run of form not seen since early 2001, when Tivvy won eight matches and drew two out of 10 – and lost just twice in 20 games – to help propel themselves into the Southern League Premier Division.

But Saunders' side have not picked up any points at Mangotsfield's Cossham Street ground since 1999, having lost three and drawn two of their five trips to the ground in the league.

Still, the Mangos have lost their last five matches in succession, meaning Tivvy head into the game as the form team.