Braintree Town might go into today’s home encounter with Skrill Premier basement side Hyde as overwhelming favourites but Iron skipper Kenny Davis doesn’t think their opponents are the worst team in the division.

On paper, today’s home fixture against basement-dwellers Hyde should be an easy three points for Iron – as the Tigers are rooted to the bottom of the division.

However, Davis has warned his side about taking their foot off the pedal against the strugglers, who have accrued just nine points from a possible 102 and have conceded 89 goals this campaign.

“I know with the position they’re in, it looks silly, but I don’t think they are the worst team we have played in this division,” exclaimed Davis.

“Obviously we want to win and we should win having beaten them earlier in the season, but they do try to play football.”

Braintree beat Hyde 3-0 in the reverse fixture in early October, with two goals from AFC Wimbledon loanee Charlie Strutton helping them along their way.

Strutton has since returned to his parent club, but two other loan players who are having a big effect at the Amlin Stadium are Bernard Mensah and Josh Laurent who are on-loan from Watford and QPR respectively.

The pair helped Braintree to their excellent win at home to Cambridge, on Tuesday, and club captain Davis has been very impressed with the duo so far.

They’ve both started really well and have looked very positive,” added Davis.

“They’re talented players and if they can keep their heads down, you never know what they could achieve in the game.”

Iron’s 2014 fixture schedule has been decimated by postponement after postponement, but the Essex-side played their first game at the Amlin Stadium since the end of December in midweek.

Dan Sparkes’ single goal gave Iron a much-needed three points as they gained revenge on a Cambridge side who beat Braintree 1-0 on Boxing Day.

“It was a good win and a good performance,” said Davis, who is likely to shake off a dead leg and feature today for Braintree.

“It’s always nice to get one over Cambridge – with them being local to us and having beaten us earlier in the season.”

The result was on the back of a creditable 2-2 draw against Kidderminster for Iron, although they did surrender a 2-0 lead.

For Cambridge, it was another disappointing display and the once unstoppable U’s have now picked up just two points from a possible 15 in the league.

“I’m not quite sure what’s happening to Cambridge,” added the long-serving skipper.

“I don’t know whether they’re hampered by injuries or it’s the amount of games, but they weren’t the same fast-paced team we played in December.”

Today’s encounter sees the first of three home games in a row for Iron with 18th-placed Hereford United the visitors next Saturday, followed by Wrexham the following Tuesday.

All in all, Braintree have 11 home fixtures to complete before the final game of the season is players on April 26.