TRANMERE Rovers will aim for a return to winning ways when they face promotion hopefuls Mansfield Town in a 'testing' League Two clash this weekend.

Micky Mellon's squad, currently 10th on the table, head to Field Mill in Nottinghamshire four points off the play-offs after losing 2- to Swindon Town last Saturday.

Mansfield currently occupy the final automatic promotion place after beating promotion candidates Colchester United 3-2.

Assessing this weekend's opponents during a press conference at the club's Solar Campus training ground this afternoon, Mellon - who signed a new two and half-year contract at Prenton Park on Tuesday - said: "I thought they were really good when they came to Prenton Park.

"It was a very, very good game and although it finished 0-0 was an excellent game of football, which was really appreciated by the fans.

"So, we'll be expecting the same when we go over there.

"It's a big game and we're hoping for back-to-back away wins, which would be nice, but we'll go there expecting to play a good game of football."

New signing Ben Pringle could make his debut for Rovers on Saturday.

Missing from the squad will be Striker Ishmael Miller, who is due to undergo surgery after sustaining a hamstring injury in last weekend’s game against Swindon Town. Mark Ellis is also struggling with a neck injury.

During the press conference Mellon said his new contract - which sees him at Prenton Park until May 2021 - came at a time of continued positivity at the club.

He told the Globe: "I want to be very, very successful; it's what football's all about. I have to contain myself at times, because we want to keep winning.

"But I've got to take a step back and remember that this is a club that's very much in transition; it's important that everybody remembers that.

"We were in the National League for three years, but the club's been heavily in decline results-wise for about five years before that, so we're probably talking about a 10-year drop.

"We are turning that around now, but you don't turn around 10 years in five minutes; it's going to take time.

"I get the opportunity to make this group better, as I do everyday on the training ground.

"There should be a massive feel-good factor about the turnaround at the club.

"I'm as disappointed as anybody when we don't win games of football and look at one person first, me. I stand at the end of the game, thinking about what can I do to help the players to improve.

"I don't believe this club is at the level it should be yet. This could be a very competitive League One club.

"That's what we can get too, but to get there you have to keep improving.

"We have to keep moving the club forward, including me.

"That means there will be players that have to improve, players that come and go, all the rest of it.

"I'm going to be here for the next two and a half years I'm going to put a team together that will hopefully push onwards and upwards in the league."

Announcing Mellon's new contract deal on Tuesday, chairman Mark Palios said: "Micky has done a great job over the past two seasons and I was keen to ensure that we secured his commitment to us for the coming years.

"Micky has a genuine passion for the club and, importantly, an understanding of what the club is about.

"He has more than proved his capability since 2016, achieving results whilst improving the way we play and strengthening the bond between the terraces and the team.

"He also has a track record of securing promotion into League One, which is the next job."