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After finishing fourth in the EW Cartons Lancashire League last season, Enfield might have been expected to have made a better fist of it this time around.

Hit by selection problems and a struggle for form, they are currently fifth from bottom of the table with just three wins.

But despite that, despondency is not on the agenda at Dill Hall Lane with captain Andy Barker positive about the rest of the summer and already impressed enough with professional Dave Saker to want to sign him again next year.

``We know there's a problem with the opening slot and we've had one or two players out of form and Gary Butcher and Tofiq Khan have been injured.

``We have had people unavailable and we've had to re-jig the side but we got a good result in the cup last weekend,'' said Barker.

``The lads showed a lot of commitment and that could be the turning point for us.

``There were things said in the dressing room by the pro afterwards. I'd like to think the penny has dropped and we're looking forward to the second half of the season.

``We have got three big games coming up and if we can do well then the season takes another turn and hopefully we will be challenging for something.'' That win in the Worsley Cup saw Enfield come back from the dead to defeat Todmorden by one run and set up a last-four clash with holders East Lancashire.

However, Barker isn't thinking about that game just yet.

``After Nelson tomorrow we play Lowerhouse the weekend after and these two league games are crucial to us. We've got to make sure we stay in the pack. The next two games are as important as the semi-final,'' he stressed.

A trip to face champions Nelson, who returned to the top of the table last weekend, might not seem the ideal fixture to try and nurture the green shoots of a recovery.

But Barker has a positive outlook and will spread that message, especially to his batsmen when they take on Roger Harper, who wrecked another batting order last week when spinning Lowerhouse to defeat.

The Enfield skipper doesn't want his side to be dictated to and believes that any team capable of putting together an eight-game winning sequence could still have a say in the title shake-up.

Enfield need to stiffen up their batting, however, to support Saker who is up among the league's leading wicket-takers despite missing the first three games of the season.

Yet it's not just Saker's wickets that have made an impact and Barker would love to see the experienced Victoria paceman back next season. ``We have got a good club spirit and the pro has helped me out with that. He is an ideal captain's pro as he gets involved and helps with the workload,'' Barker added.

``He's brought a bit of the Australian attitude and we are encouraging each other rather than looking after ourselves. The team comes first.

``We are very happy with him and if I could I'd sign him up for next year. His bowling is as good as anything in the league and his batting is looking better all the time he's at the crease.

``He's good for the club and the team and I'd like him back next year, all being well.''

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