STOURBRIDGE director of rugby Neil Mitchell says building on their relationship with Stourbridge Lions could be a way of strengthening his side's weak underbelly.

A catalogue of injuries throughout the first half of the campaign has left Stour in the bottom half of the table despite the fact they harboured hopes of promotion before the season began.

Their poor form hasn't been helped by the fact that the majority of the squad haven't been able to train together due to fitness concerns.

With players regularly nursing injuries during mid-week it has left Mitchell unable to work with the group as a whole.

However, he has now targeted a better link with Stourbridge Lions as a way to bolster his squad in the future.

The Lions are a separate team but share Stourton Park for their games in Midlands Two West (North).

Mitchell said: "The injuries have highlighted our weak underbelly and it is something we have to try to put right.

"It is difficult to have a second team or a big squad where players aren't getting games. One way around the issue could be loan players from the Lions and build up on our relationship with them. That is my intention, especially because of the level they are now at.

"We have already identified four or five players that would be capable of featuring for us.

"We need to do something because we have had the situation where players aren't training and we are becoming a Saturday to Saturday side. It's no surprise that we aren't producing results and are playing in fits and starts."

One former Lions player that could feature for Stour this weekend is prop James Owen.

Meanwhile, Mitchell says his side must hit back from last weekend's 22-20 home defeat against Leicester Lions when they welcome Huddersfield to Stourton Park this Saturday.

"It was disappointing to lose after we had worked so hard to get into a winning position. Our heads seemed to drop and we put ourselves under too much pressure.

"It is a must win game for us so that we can get back on track after two poor results."

Loanee Joe Murphy, 27, has been forced to retire after suffering a spinal injury against Broadstreet.

However, fly-half Caolan Ryan maybe fit enough to make a Stour return soon.

Mitchell is sweating on the fitness of six players for the Huddersfield game. They including Mark George and Adam Sturdy.