JAMIE Collett is targeting one final flourish in Newcastle and Hartshill's relegation battle as he prepares to hand over the captaincy.

Collett will call time on his three-year tenure at the end of the season and wants to sign off having preserved the club's Division Two status.

But he faces an uphill task, with the Clayton Lane outfit 18 points from safety heading into tomorrow's do-or-die home game with bottom side Wedgwood Stanfields.

"I've enjoyed being captain, but it is tough. You do feel the pressure of the job," said Collett.

"My wife is expecting our second child, so with work commitments as well, the time seems right to step aside.

"There are some good candidates who I'd say are in the frame to replace me.

"The likes of Simon Wood, Andy Keates and Jonathan Malpass all have good cricket brains and would do a good job.

"The decision will be made three or four weeks after the end of the season, which gives the new skipper time to plan for next year."

Collett concedes this season has been frustrating, with his side displaying an inconsistent streak which has hampered their hopes of survival.

Surprise victories over high-flying Weston and Meakins hinted at the potential in the Newcastle side, but crucial defeats to their relegation rivals have checked their progress as they attempt to catch third-bottom Moddershall A.

"From a batting point of view the lads have not been consistent enough. The application hasn't been there when we've been under pressure," added Collett.

"We squandered a great chance against Crewe last week which has left us in this position.

"We've beaten teams near the top, but we lost to Wedgwood and Crewe twice. Those are the games you really have to win.

"Losing those matches really hurt us. It is all about consistency and it's frustrating.

"Last week was a big setback, but tomorrow's game is definitely winnable.

"We want to be within touching distance of Moddershall A heading into our final fixture against Caverswall and then see what happens."

While Newcastle and Hartshill look for a solution to their relegation woes, the predicament facing Wedgwood Stanfields is even worse.

Adrian Lello's side are 39 points from safety and look set to make an instant return to Division Three.

"Our backs are against the wall. We need maximum points from our final two games and then hope Moddershall lose both matches convincingly," said Lello.

"A draw tomorrow will probably send both sides down, so it should be an attacking game.

"The toss will be pretty crucial because both sides will be looking for the 25 points."

Lello admits he already has one eye on plotting a return to Division Two next season, despite his side's fate not being sealed.

He believes Wedgwood's inability to pick up bonus points will ultimately prove to be their downfall.

"It has been a hard season for us. We have beaten a lot of the teams around us, but haven't been able to pick up any meaningful bonus points when we've lost," he added.

"We've been taking one or two points from defeats, whereas five or six would have given us a great chance of staying up.

" I want to build a team which doesn't only win the Division Three title, but can compete at this level as well."