THE champions are heading to Maes Tegid this weekend.

A major challenge awaits Bala Town on Friday evening, with Colin Caton's charges welcoming defending Welsh Premier League champions The New Saints.

Bizarre goings-on last weekend mean that Bala will go into the key clash on the back of a busy week.

The Lakesiders left frustrated as the lights went out on their televised JD Welsh Cup clash with Flint Town United last Saturday night.

A floodlight failure at Cae-y-Castell forced the third round

clash to be abandoned after just four minutes of play.

"It was nothing we could do anything about and I have been in football long enough to know that these things happen," said Bala boss Caton.

Bala had made a blistering start to the encounter, taking a

second minute lead through Kieran Smith’s volley from the edge of the area.

The tie was rescheduled to be played last night (Tuesday, November 11).

The winners will travel to Haverfordwest County in the fourth round.

Looking ahead to this Friday's league match, Caton said: "It's difficult and it will be a test of character again."

Unusually, multiple champions The New Saints find themselves down in third position in the Welsh Premier League standings.

They have 30 points, three points ahead of the Lakesiders, who are in fourth position as the mid-season split fast approaches.

"It's not like them and they not as clinical and as consistent as they have been," added Caton.

"But that's because there has been a change of manager there.

"We changed the way we play when we went there earlier this season and it was a draw.

"The lads played really well.

"We will go the same way on Friday and we will look to stifle them.

"We have got plenty of firepower now, which we didn't have last season.

"No other league in the world would play on Tuesday and Friday.

"TNS will be resting at home and our lads have got a difficult week ahead."