BOWERS & Pitsea manager Rob Small says he is excited to face one of the best teams in the Ryman North, when Brightlingsea Regent visit the Len Salmon Stadium tonight.

Small has enjoyed a wonderful start to life in the division, with Bowers fifth ahead of kick-off.

This is despite back-to-back defeats, with Bowers going down 2-1 at Thamesmead Town on Saturday, having missed a host of chances to win the game.

And Small is determined Bowers fight back, albeit against a talented opponent.

“I am looking forward to going up against one of the best teams I have seen in the division,” he said. “If they win the games they have in hand they go top which is credit to them.

“They work hard, have quality throughout their team and are together as a unit.

“We will be looking for some of the underdog fight we have displayed regularly in the last couple of years and will try our hardest to overcome of the league’s big boys.”

Regent are third but have four games in hand on leaders Maldon & Tiptree, who have topped the standings for much of the season to date.

The two drew 1-1 in the reverse league fixture in September, while Small’s men were beaten in the second round of the Ryman League Cup last month.