The Aberdeen Grammar captain Sam Knudson sees no room for error when his side take on bottom-of-the-table side Musselburgh this weekend.
The side lie fifth in the table ahead of tomorrow’s encounter at Rubislaw.
Grammar went into the winter break on the back of three defeats on the spin to Jed-Forest, Selkirk and Glasgow Hawks.
Knudson feels a win this weekend is essential given the tight division.
The Rubislaw men are only five points above second-bottom Jed-Forest but seven behind Selkirk, the team immediately above them.
Knudson said: “We have a lot of tough games coming up towards the end of the season so it is vital we put some points on the board.
“December was a really tough month because we were missing some key players through injury but we have pretty much a full squad for this weekend’s match.”
The 27-year-old believes this weekend’s visitors to Rubislaw are in a false position.
He said: “We have played Musselburgh a few times and they are a team that is very similar in strength to ourselves.
“They are certainly not to be underestimated. They have plenty of good players and they probably aren’t where they should be in the league table.
“We know it won’t be easy and we will need to be at our best if we are to get the result we want this weekend.”
Ali O’Connor’s men welcome back Greig Ryan for this weekend’s match after he missed the three defeats before the winter break.
Knudson added: “Greig was away getting married and on honeymoon and we certainly missed his influence on games.
“He is an important player so it is good to have him back available this weekend.”
The Grammar captain is hopeful his side can have a positive 2020 and hopes to get the year off to a winning start against Musselburgh.
He said: “I think a realistic target would be to finish in the top half of the Premiership.
“We know that we can be dragged into the relegation fight with a couple of bad results.
“But if we can put a few wins together then we can move away from the danger area.”
Elsewhere in the Premiership, leaders Marr host Hawick, Edinburgh Accies entertain Currie Chieftains, Glasgow Hawks take on GHA and second-bottom Jed-Forest meet Selkirk.
