RISHTON captain Peter Sleep insists his side can still win the Transco Lancashire League.

Their title challenge has faltered in the past fortnight with defeats against the top two of Bacup and East Lancs.

Tomorrow Rishton take on third-placed Todmorden in another crunch game and Sleep believes that top spot isn't beyond the Blackburn Road outfit.

"We have just gone off the boil a fraction but I think we can get things back on track and it all starts this weekend," he said.

"If we can start with a win today (at home to Nelson) then tomorrow is a big game. If we did lose it then, to win the league, we would have to win almost every game. That's not impossible but it makes things a bit harder.

"I still think we can win it, although we've got to play a lot better than we are."

Todmorden have got themselves into the championship shake-up after a slow start to the campaign.

The Centre Vale club has already beaten Rishton in league and cup but Sleep is looking to make it third time lucky.

He added: "They tend to revolve around one or two players, like most sides. The pro and Richard Baigent are both good players and if we can get them out we're half-way there. And if we play anything like we will beat them."

Rishton's back-to-back defeats have coincided with a dip in professional Clinton Perren's impressive form and his contribition will be key tomorrow. "He's having a bit of a quiet patch but he's looking forward to getting a big score and if he gets a big score we'll be half-way home," said Sleep.

East Lancs have stolen a march in the title race but as they play Bacup at Lanehead today their lead could be wiped out to give added hope to the chasing pack.

"One of those has got to lose which evens it up and the way things are going if we get a bit of luck and win tomorrow it's catch-up time when we play Bacup and East Lancs again. We've got to beat them to make up the extra points," added Sleep, who believes his side has only once under-performed badly, when losing to Haslingden.

Rishton and Todmorden will also take heart from the fact that East Lancs will lose the services of professional Brad Young after next weekend, and Sleep is looking to cash in when the top two play their reverse fixtures against the 1996 champions.

"His going will have a big bearing on East Lancs. Shaun Young is a good pro for Bacup but I'm just hoping we can do a bit better at our place on a flatter pitch," he said.

Tomorrow's fixtures: Accrington v Haslingden, Burnley v Enfield, East Lancs v Colne, Nelson v Bacup, Ramsbottom v Lowerhouse, Rawtenstall v Church, Todmorden v Rishton.