PLYMOUTH Albion will have to breach one of the Championship's meanest defences if they are to get anything from tomorrow's trip to London Welsh (2pm).

Welsh have conceded just 16 tries in 10 matches this season – only Bedford and Exeter can match that.

They have also conceded just 172 points – only Exeter (170) can better that record.

Offensively, second from bottom Albion have struggled to score both tries and points this campaign.

They have accumulated just 18 tries in 10 matches this season, the same number as basement side Birmingham-Solihull.

Only Rotherham, with 16 tries, have scored fewer in the Championship.

The city side have also only notched up 162 points, leaving just Birmingham (154) as the only side to have scored fewer.

Eight of Albion's points came in last Saturday's 33-8 home defeat to second-placed Bristol.

Plymouth pushed Bristol hard – the scoreline rather flattered the visitors after they scored two late converted tries.

Chairman of rugby Graham Dawe believes his side will have to at least match that performance, if not better it, if they are going to stand a chance of coming away with anything tomorrow.

When asked if he felt his side played good rugby against Bristol, Dawe

(pictured top)

said: "It depends on what people call good rugby.

"Any team can pass the ball around and look good.

"But playing good rugby and scoring points and winning games is a different story.

"We have got to get other things in place before we start winning games of rugby.

"We have got to get a performance (tomorrow) that at least matches last week's against Bristol, if not surpasses it."

Dawe added of the trip to sixth-placed London Welsh: "We have got to go there sometime this season.

"I don't know how good they are because I haven't seen them this season.

"It doesn't matter where they are (in the league table) at this stage of the season."

Albion and Welsh enter tomorrow's clash with contrasting runs of form.

The Brickfields club have enjoyed just two wins in their last eight matches and have not won away this season.

Welsh, on the other hand, have won six and lost only twice in the same number of outings.

Worryingly for Albion, if they were to lose tomorrow and Doncaster beat Rotherham, they could be at least seven points from safety.

"I would suggest not looking at the league table," said Dawe. "It is the end of the season that counts."

Tomorrow's clash at Old Deer Park marks the halfway point of the Championship season.

Albion began the campaign with a fine 33-10 win over Birmingham-Solihull.

They have won just twice since – at home against Cornish Pirates and Nottingham.

But the latter success on October 31 saw the city side produce a superb display, outscoring their opponents by five tries to one.

Despite last week's loss to Bristol, Albion bossed the game in the first half and showed they are capable of competing with the top sides in the division.

When asked if his side are showing any signs of improvement this season, Dawe said: "That is something you can't call in the middle of the season – words are cheap."