FOREST Green utility man Paul Digby feels he'll have a slight advantage when he returns to face his former club Mansfield Town on Saturday.

The 24-year-old spent last season at the One Call Stadium where he made 21 appearances in all competitions.

Digby is excited about facing his old team and believes he has a bit of an upper given his knowledge of the Stags squad.

"I think when you go back to your former club you've always got an advantage because you know most the players," said Digby.

"I trained with them every day so I know what they're about as people and players so that gives me strength and confidence and I feel it's a real advantage for me.

"I'm looking forward to it, seeing a few familiar faces but it's like any other game, I prepare the same way and go out and try and win."

Digby reflects on his time at Mansfield positively although he felt admits some aspects didn't go his way.

"It was good," he commented.

"I enjoyed it, being at home but I thought I should have played a bit more so on that front it was a bit disappointing but it will be good going back there and playing."

The former Barnsley and Ipswich Town man started the 3-0 win over Yeovil Town on Saturday alongside another ex-Mansfield man in Lee Collins.

Digby felt the pair complimented each other well and says he loved playing in a midfield combination with the 30-year-old.

"I really enjoyed it, I love playing with Collo. We're both tall, can both play centre half or centre midfield and we're good in the air. We know each other well and I think we were very effective at the weekend.

Forest Green played out an entertaining 1-1 draw with the Stags less than a month ago.

Mansfield are currently third in League Two and Rovers could go within a point of them if they win on Saturday.

They then have another crucial game against table toppers Lincoln City on Saturday, March 2 in what is shaping up to be an important week in the promotion race but Digby insists it won't define their season and that Rovers' is attention is solely on Mansfield.

"I don't think define the season, we take it game by game," he said.

"We're going to go to Mansfield and focus on beating them and once we get that out the way we'll focus on Lincoln. You here a lot of players say it but that's what you do at the moment.

"Once you start looking too far ahead or focus on other things you're not focused on the game in hand and we need to put all our energy into Mansfield and give them the respect they deserve.

"It's the business end of the season and as a player these are the fixtures you want to be playing in, you want that added pressure going into games and that brings the best out of you. I know for me personally if there's something else on the line that's when I feel I play my best football."