DEFIANT Jon Higgins says Dudley Kingswinford are good enough to survive in National Two North.

The Heathbrook side have endured a disappointing start to the campaign, losing four of their first five games.

Their misery intensified last Saturday when they suffered a last-gasp 21-19 defeat to Sheffield Tigers, the second home game this campaign they have blown a lead late on to lose.

But player-coach Higgins is taking heart from how his 11th-placed side have competed so far and believes the results will come with time.

He said: “I’m more than confident we can stay up.

“If you look at the positives we have not yet played any of the teams below us in the league.

“Aside from when we played Stourbridge, who have beaten everyone convincingly, we have been right in the thick of every game.

“This league is so tight, any team can beat anyone on their day and we are close to turning these defeats into wins.

“We could quite easily be sitting here with three wins from five.”

He added: “On Saturday, we were superior to Sheffield for most of the game.

“It should never have come down to a one-score game but when that does happen you run the risk of being stung at the end, which we did.”

DK head to unbeaten Hull Ionians on Saturday and Higgins admits his players are facing a test of character.

But he believes they can pull off a shock if they play to their potential.

He said: “We spoke about it in the dressing room after the game.

“We have had things our own way for the past two years, we have not been tested week-in week-out like we are now.

“It’s a test of the squad and our character and it’s all about how you bounce back from disappointment.

“It’s not going to be easy at Hull but we have nothing to lose.

“If we click we will win the game because honestly, we are not that bad a side.”