Southampton Rangers assistant coach Gerri Saltus hopes new-boy Keith Jennings can be the spark plug his team needs to move away from the relegation zone.

Jennings left his beloved North Village on a late transfer to join Rangers and is now eligible for action after missing the deadline to start the Premier Division season.

The mercurial midfielder, who has been playing for Prison Officers in the Corona League, has been assisting Saltus in a coaching capacity in the absence of head coach Albert Smith who has been recovering from surgery.

Rangers also welcome Travis Wilkinson back to the South Shore club for this weekend's clash against PHC.

Wilkinson signed for Somerset Eagles at the start of the season but has left the West End outfit without playing a game for them.

"Keith has already been influential to the side as he has been helping out with assisting the side in the coaching department while Albert has been out," said Saltus.

"He has come in and showed the boys a new attitude. I think it is big for us to have a player like him in the team, and we will also be getting Travis Wilkinson back.

"So along with Keith we will okay because he has been the piece we have been missing to really take us over the hump.

"We have a pretty decent squad already but with Keith coming in he will give us that extra little incentive to go and grab the game.

"We are pretty much at full strength now, minus Dennis Russell so we will be in good stead for the second half of the season."

Rangers are currently seventh in the league table, just three points off the relegation zone, and with tough matches against Zebras and Boulevard up next they are facing an uphill battle to keep out of trouble.

Although PHC are harbouring title dreams, Saltus believes a derby encounter against their tenants at Southampton Oval could be just what Rangers need to kick-start their campaign.

"The key to the second half of the season for us is to cut out the mental mistakes and become more disciplined in our play," he said. "Also training hard will have to continue.

"The points against those teams around us are going to be vital, they will have added incentive.

"We start against PHC and we are looking to get something out of that because it is a derby match and anything can happen.

"Then we tackle Boulevard before Colts so we will have to look at those around us and see what can be done in order to be successful against them."