Achilles boss Lee Osborn knows this weekend’s top-of-the-table clash with Grundisburgh will be pivotal to the outcome of the Touchline SIL Senior title race this season.

Osborn’s men have led the way in the league for the majority of the season and should they defeat their arch-rivals tomorrow, could go eight points clear as league-leaders.

“It’s a massive six-pointer,” said Osborn.

“Grundisburgh arguably need the three points more than us as we could go eight points clear but we’ll be going there to win.”

The pair met in a warm-up match in the Bob Coleman Cup last weekend, which after a 120-minute 1-1 stalemate, was settled with the lottery of penalty kicks.

Grundisburgh bought the lucky ticket and progressed into the fourth round with keeper Adam Wilson the hero.

And Osborn is expecting a game of similar nature this weekend.

“It’ll be a tight game that’s for sure,” said Osborn, who has been involved with Achilles in a playing and managerial capacity for 22 years.

“Last week the four centre-halves were fantastic and I expect it to be another similar game this weekend.

“We’ve got a couple of players to come back and so have they so it promises to be a good game.”

Osborn’s men have only failed to gain maximum points in three of their league fixtures so far but Osborn, who brought himself on to take and score a penalty last weekend, knows that there is a long way to go.

“Look at Ipswich Valley Rangers. They’ve slipped off but everybody slips at some stage,” said Osborn.

“Every side goes through a bad patch, and I’m sure Rangers will pull back through and will still be there or thereabouts at the end of the season.

“I’m certainly not writing them off.”

Achilles are on a mission this season to finally end their wait for the Senior title having gone mightily close in previous seasons – having been runners-up on two occasions in recent years.

“We’ve been known as the nearly men for a few seasons and we normally start slow and then pick up in the second half of the season,” said Osborn.

“But this year we’ve started really well and will do everything we can to carry on this run.”

Osborn continued: “The lads’ attitude has been phenomenal so far and they’ve really dug in together. We’ve got a good sized squad with lots of quality.”