“MAKE or break” is how trainer Tony Borg has described Robbie Turley’s British super-bantamweight title eliminator against Tommy Ward.

Cefn Fforest fighter Turley will have his eyes set on a crack at the Lonsdale Belt should he overcome unbeaten Ward this Saturday.

The showdown takes place in Ward’s backyard at the Rainton Meadows Arena near Sunderland, meaning it is only Turley’s third contest outside of Wales as a pro.

But Borg says that the 29-year-old, who has a record of 16 wins from 21 fights to date, is in excellent shape for his long trip to the north of England.

However, he has also stressed just how important it is for the former Celtic champion as he finally seeks to get a British title shot.

Turley did win an eliminator against Jamie Speight in December 2014 but didn’t reap the rewards that victory should have given him.

But 15 months on and it is pretty much do or die as far as Borg is concerned.

“This fight could make or break him,” said the St Joseph’s coach. “If he wins this he could go on and win British and Commonwealth titles.

“Robbie’s looking as good as he has been for a long time. He’s been sparring really well with Gary Buckland, Lee Selby and some fighters from Portsmouth and Liverpool.

“He has had lots of different sparring partners and has applied himself really well.

“If Robbie produces his best he can come away with a win in seven or eight rounds.

“Ward was a very good amateur and is unbeaten as a pro, and he will have a lot of support behind him, but if Robbie can get through this it would be massive for him.”

Borg admits he has had to work on Turley’s mental approach as well as his physical attributes, describing his boxer as a “rollercoaster of emotions”.

Turley’s big night comes less a week after super-bantamweight world champion Carl Frampton beat Scott Quigg in a big domestic clash in Manchester.

One of Frampton’s 22 successive wins came against Turley when the two met for the Celtic title in 2011.

Turley took Frampton the distance on that occasion, but Borg feels his man savoured the plaudits for his dogged display for a bit too long.

“Robbie’s outstanding performance was against Carl Frampton, who has now gone on to get to the top of the world,” added Borg.

“Robbie took him the distance but maybe didn’t move on from that as quickly as he should have.”