LEIGH RMI's survival hopes may look bleak, but Phil Starbuck is still optimistic his side can still battle their way out of trouble.

As the beleaguered boss prepared for Saturday's crucial home game with Morecambe, he said: "There are enough games left to survive. If we can win our game in hand, we are back in the fray. We have to get a result. There is a long way to go and a lot of games left.

"We have to take stock; get the boys together again and pick them up again. We just need to a get a win to lift our confidence.

"We are fighting for our lives now and I want a bit more fight from them. It is certainly not over and I will not, as a manager, let any of them pack in unless it is mathematically certain we cannot survive."

The Railwaymen are seven points adrift of safety after five successive defeats and Starbuck wants an improvement.

"I thought we had a good run going into Christmas, and I didn't think it would be as tough as it is now," he admitted.

Starbuck's hopes of an improved display should be boosted by the return of central defender Neil Durkin, and combative midfielder Wayne Maden. Durkin has missed Leigh's last four league games with a groin injury, while Maden broke his nose against Chester.

The manager is looking for his side to dig deep because of the state of the Hilton Park pitch, which restricts their passing game.

He added: "We can't play the type of passing game we want to at home because the pitch is so bobbly and heavy. Brazil couldn't play on there."

Leigh take on a Morecambe outfit who have won six of their last 10 games, losing only twice.