ADY Pennock knows Barrow AFC have to be at their best to get a result against Sutton United tomorrow.

Pennock watched the high-flying U's as they defeated Dagenham and Redbridge 2-1 last weekend, and rates them as one of the best teams in the National League.

Sutton come to Barrow just three points off leaders Macclesfield Town in third place in the table, and with just one defeat in their last five league games (3pm kick-off).

That loss came against Macclesfield on December 30, since when they are unbeaten in four matches in all competitions, making them the latest in a string of promotion hopefuls to head to South Cumbria.

Barrow go into the game having had last weekend off – the postponement at Guiseley allowing Pennock to take in the Sutton game against Dagenham – and with their last game being the 2-0 FA Trophy defeat to Brackley Town.

That is a match firmly in the past for the AFC boss, who is aware of the importance of picking up points this weekend.

“The Brackley game is behind us now, and we have moved on from that,” Pennock said. “I think we're much the better for it. But we have to turn up on Saturday – if we don't, then it won't be a good day for us.

“We're in a relegation fight, and I haven't hidden from the fact we're in a relegation fight. If we win on Saturday, then we're still in a relegation fight. It would be three points, we want those three points, but we're still in a relegation fight.

“Three points on Saturday are what it is all about. We've just got to keep picking up points – win or draw – and keep pushing away from that relegation zone.”

Barrow can take confidence from their recent efforts against Wrexham and Tranmere Rovers.

Both sides are up there with Sutton as contenders for promotion – sitting fourth and fifth respectively ahead of the weekend's fixtures – but neither could beat the Bluebirds.

AFC drew 1-1 and 3-3 with Wrexham over the Christmas period, and their last home league match saw them match Tranmere in another 1-1 draw.

Put to him that the team seem to up their game when they come across the best sides in the division, Pennock said: “We do. On paper, that's what we've been doing.

“Against Tranmere and the like, we have been playing well against the so-called better teams. Let's hope that happens on Saturday, because we need to turn up on Saturday, that's for sure.”

He added: “I watched them (Sutton) when our game was called off at Guiseley. It was a good opportunity for me to go and watch them, so I drove down.

“I think they are one of the best teams in the league. They are very strong, they have got good individuals, and as a collective, as team, they are one of the best I have seen this season, certainly based on Saturday's performance.”

Pennock will have new goalkeeper Steve Arnold and forward Luke James available for the first time tomorrow, while loan winger Chris Humphrey has had an extra week with the squad having signed a day before the first FA Trophy match against Brackley.

With only winger David Fitzpatrick on the injured list, as he continues his recovery from a knee problem, that gives him a full squad to choose from – though both keeper Stuart Moore and striker Adi Yussuf have departed since the FA Trophy exit.

Pennock has been pleased with the way the squad have come together with the new faces in the past week, and said: “They have done very well. Everyone has trained very well this week and they're looking forward to Saturday.

“It has been a good five days, where the new boys have got used to each other, and they have bedded in nicely.”