NEWPORT County manager Peter Nicholas is banking on his side finding some consistency as they prepare for tomorrow's trip to high-flying Basingstoke Town (kick-off 3pm).

The County faithful have so far enjoyed and endured matches in a stuttering start to the Conference South season, culminating in a topsy-turvy seven days last week that saw them beaten 4-2 at home to Sutton (in front of over 1,000 supporters) before beating Bognor Regis 1-0.

Having lost three, won three and drawn one this season, Nicholas has been left bemused by his side's unpredictable nature, but he is certain they will turn the corner.

He said: "We need to find some consistent form but I am sure the lads are ready for that and are capable of doing it. Last Monday's defeat was an absolutely disastrous performance but we made amends by winning our next game.

"We should be back to full-strength for tomorrow's game and we have nothing in particular to fear about Basingstoke.

"I have had them watched and they are a useful outfit but so are we and we will go there with plenty of confidence knowing that we need to improve our away performances.

"This is a tight division and any team that gets on a winning run will move swiftly up the table and that is our aim at the moment.

"We need to start making winning a habit and capitalise on the tremendous depth we have in the current squad.

"Weymouth were the early favourites with the bookies but they are not hammering anyone, they are edging some games but they haven't dominated."

Basingstoke have begun in fine fettle but they are not invincible, hammered 6-0 by Hornchurch on Saturday which knocked them off the top of the Conference South.

Nicholas is likely to recall the fit again Scott Young and Lee Phillips.

Andrew Thomas, who suffered a horrific leg break last season, is also back in contention after playing in the Bognor Regis game and Nicholas is full of praise for the central defender.

"Thomas is a great player and a brilliant character and he has bounced back from the injury and is a huge boost to the squad," Nicholas said.

County from: Freestone, L Phillips, Aherne-Evans, Davies, Morgan, D Jones, Bowen, Young, Moralee, Wilson-Denis, Coates, Passmore, Williams, G Jones, J Phillips, O'Sullivan, Thomas, Blackburn.