NEIL Mitchell says Stourbridge's squad is nearly at full strength ahead of Saturday's crunch clash with Hull.

The director of rugby at Stourton Park has been dogged by injuries to his players throughout the campaign and is now entirely focused on keeping 11th-placed Stour in the division after a run of four straight defeats have left them perilously close to the drop zone.

However, a narrow 23-22 away loss to Caldy last Saturday gave hope that they are close to returning to winning ways.

Mitchell said: "I am now just four players short of a fully fit squad. I have 26 players fit and we were able to have a significant training session this week.

"At this time of year a lot of clubs usually start to get injuries, with us it is the opposite.

"It is no surprise to see our form start to improve. We now have to take that into the Hull game and get back on the horse as far as winning games is concerned."

Stour's squad has been further boosted by the arrival of England age-group tight-head prop Jack Spencer from Gloucester.

Mitchell has also brought two players from the Lions onboard. Both Fred Brookes and Tom Mitchell will now be involved, with hooker Brookes in line for a start this weekend.

Another boost has come with the returns of inside centre Ben Barkley after a broken jaw and fly-half Caolan Ryan on-loan from Moseley.

Against Caldy, Stourbridge were denied a much-needed victory by a late penalty in front of the posts.

Despite a bus breakdown delaying the team's arrival at Paton Field until barely half hour before the scheduled kick-off, Stour battled hard to get themselves into a winning position until late heartbreak.

"It was disappointing to lose but was a significant improvement," said Mitchell. "The players didn't allow the late arrival disrupt them and got straight into the action.

"We stripped everything down to basic rugby and did very well. We now need to focus on doing the same against Hull.

"It would be nice to go on and finish a tough season on a high. People are now playing for the opportunity to be involved next year."