Orkney head coach Paul Livingstone is confident his players will not allow their National 3 season to peter out.
The eighth-placed islanders have six games to play this term, starting with tomorrow’s trip to Haddington, with a backlog created after several postponements.
Livingstone is determined to make the games in hand count and claims fifth-placed Highland, who are 17 points ahead of his side having played two games more, are not outwith reach.
Livingstone said: “If I can keep getting the same guys commiting for the rest of the season there is no reason we can’t go up to fifth with a few bonus-point wins.
“That may seem a little high but it’s got to be. We can’t just say we will take it easy and stay where we are. It’s not how we do it.
“I don’t think I’m asking too much of the players to get a couple of bonus-point victories and they all seem to be on board.
“It does not matter what I say, though, it’s all about what the guys do on the pitch and this weekend will a harder test for us than last Saturday’s 50-13 win against Livingston.”
The Orkney head coach is plotting tactical changes for the trip to East Lothian, with Haddington running out 29-26 winners the last time the sides met at Pickaquoy in September.
Livingstone added: “I have worked a lot on defence with the guys this season and I have changed the way we defend.
“Now it is time to work on our attack and I’ll be making a few little tweaks here and there.
“It’s a slightly wider form of attack I’m trying to put in place and the guys are starting to understand it – things have been quite positive so far.
“I am quietly optimistic as we have good numbers this weekend, with the likes of Mark Sinclair and Darren Mclean back in contention.”
