STOURBRIDGE Director of rugby Neil Mitchell has warned his players they cannot afford to keep switching off in games ahead of Saturday's trip to high flying Huddersfield.

Mitchell pointed the finger at some of his more senior players this week and accused them of falling asleep in the second half of their recent 36-18 defeat to Fylde.

Unhappy Mitchell is well aware his side cannot continue to slip up, despite this season's National League Division 2 North looking to be a more open affair than ever.

Mitchell said: "We've always had the ability to score tries, but we've always maintained a tight defence at the same time. But some of the players seem to have gone to sleep. With the winter months ahead you rely on the guys who have been steadfast.

"In most games this season, we've been there or thereabouts but that wasn't the case against Fylde and we paid the price for it.

"We need the players to switch on for 60 to 70 minutes, not 40. I think it's a mental thing rather than physical but I was more concerned that it seemed to be two or three of the more experienced guys switching off.

"Although we were down to the bare 20 players for the game against Fylde, there were no excuses. It wasn't a case of square pegs in round holes, we had the right players in the right positions."

Mitchell expects to have almost a full squad to select from for the trip to Huddersfield but suggests that Stourbridge will go there as under-dogs.

He should be boosted by the inclusion of Worcester Warriors scrum-half Callum Morris who looks set to make his debut.

Mitchell added: "We were hoping to have him earlier but Callum suffered a back injury in pre-season."

The arrival of Morris couldn't be more timely as summer signing Adam Shaw has moved to Mansfield. He is still available to Stourbridge on match days, but now unable to train.

As a result, Joe Heatley has been filling in at scrum-half.

There is also a question mark over the fitness of another of Mitchell's major summer recruits, fly-half Rickie Aley, who damaged his should in the defeat at Chester.

But there should be a welcome return for hooker Jack Lea after having his toe nail removed.

Yet despite being closer to full strength, Mitchell continued: "I still need to get a few more bodies in. I'm off to Dubai shortly and I'm hoping to do something while I'm out there to bolster the squad."