BRIDPORT boss Adam Fricker feels the Bees’ crunch festive fixtures against Street and Willand Rovers will indicate whether they can be “considered as a top-six side”.

Fricker’s men have taken 12 points from a possible 15 in their last five Toolstation Western League Premier Division games to rise into seventh in the standings.

But they will go up against second-placed Willand Rovers on Saturday, December 23 and leaders Street on Boxing Day having already defeated each side this season.

Fricker told Echosport: “We’ve beaten both teams this season but that said, we would never underestimate them.

“Street are flying in the league and we need to go in there with the belief that both teams are beatable and see what we can get out of it.

“If we want to be considered a top-six side we need to be competing with them on a regular basis, hopefully we’ll be firing on all cylinders.”

With the Bees contesting seven fixtures in December, Fricker is grateful for the lack of a midweek game this week as he looks to preserve his squad’s energy levels.

He said: “You have to be lucky with injuries and fitness. You’re never going to have a squad of 18 or 19 where you’re going to rotate.

“We’re trying to utilise lads and rest them as and when we can. It’s an opportunity for the lads to rest up before we go into a very busy Christmas period.

“Normally when you get through October and November the midweek games tend to fall off, but we’re victims of our own success. I’d rather be in this position if it means having an alright season. If you’re not playing you’re going to be training anyway.”

Fricker is also keen to find out what his players are capable of this campaign.

“Winning is a good habit and gives you the confidence to go into each game. Saturday’s result (3-2 loss to Shepton Mallet) will also have given them a kick to say ‘let’s not get carried away with ourselves’. We’ve got a lot of hard work to do. We want to see how far we can push ourselves as a team,” he said.