David Grof handed a vote of confidence

Walsall boss Dean Smith is ready to keep faith with keeper David Grof as Walsall bid to upset the form book tomorrow.

The Saddlers tackle a Notts County side that has roared out of the League One blocks with back-to-back wins over Crewe and Hartlepool.

It's a record Walsall can only envy after an opening day defeat to Doncaster which was partially mended by a battling point at Oldham in midweek.

But Smith's raw and unfancied outfit will be under the cosh again when they travel to Meadow Lane to face a County side undergoing its own transformation under Keith Curle.

Despite the scale of the task, the Saddlers boss feels it is no time to start losing faith in players and offered a vote of confidence to Grof despite the keeper's blunder which gifted Oldham their goal in Tuesday night's 1-1 draw.

"There will be no repercussions for David," insisted Smith, who has Jimmy Walker standing by.

"It was a mistake and that's part and parcel of things – we move on."

With striker Febian Brandy ruled out for at least another 10 days by injury, only the prospect of Richard Taundry making a swift recovery from a thigh injury is likely to influence any changes for Smith.

Saddlers won't have to face former defender Manny Smith, who joined County in the summer, but is injured.