NEWPORT County AFC boss Justin Edinburgh believes Saturday’s clash with Shrewsbury Town could be season defining.

The Exiles are looking to recover from back-to-back away defeats at Cambridge United and Northampton Town as they return to fortress Rodney Parade.

Edinburgh's men have lost just once at home in League Two this term, back on the opening day of the campaign to current table-toppers Wycombe Wanderers.

They are now preparing for the visit of high-flying Shrewsbury on what will be one of the biggest games at Rodney Parade for County since their return to the Football League.

And Edinburgh admits a home game is exactly what he would prescribe for his struggling squad.

“We get home comforts for Shrewsbury and that is timely for us,” he said.

“When we lost at Cambridge, there would’ve been nothing better for us than being at home in the next game.

“To go away back-to-back is difficult, but especially coming off the result against Cambridge, it would’ve been good to be at home.

“To get back where we’ve had a fantastic run and haven’t lost since the opening game of the season, it gives us a boost and I know the players are looking forward to it.

“Shrewsbury are a very good side and will pose a really big challenge, but it is one we are relishing.

“Shrewsbury is a game we should be very excited for," he added.

"We went to Portsmouth away in August and hadn’t won and the occasion, it was the start for us, it was the catalyst for our season and with this one you feel it could be a defining moment in our season, at home against a fantastic team on a really good run.

“There is a bit of rivalry there and I don’t think there is a better game for us.”

Edinburgh, who switched to a 3-4-3 system at Sixfields last weekend, admitted he got his tactics wrong against the Cobblers.

“I am always critical of myself, I assess everything and I think in this instance, with the three up top, I don’t think we caused them enough problems and I have to hold my hands up to that,” he said.

“We have not been as competitive as we wanted and we didn’t play at the tempo we wanted.

"I don’t think I got the formation right, but there was always going to be a dip and I don’t envisage it being hard to get the response we want.

“But we always analyse ourselves, we set high standard here and will continue to do so.

“We are disappointed, but we won’t rest and be happy until we are back to winning ways and this week the boys look to have a real steely focus back in them.”