BASINGSTOKE RFC player-coach Jim Dixon has called on his side to respond positively to their two recent set-backs by gaining a much-needed win at Bishop's Stortford.

Consecutive league defeats, to Canterbury and London Scottish by 30-21 margins, have dragged 'Stoke back into the London one relegation dogfight.

Last weekend, Sutton won at Thanet and Old Colfeians lost at London Nigerians, to tighten standings at the bottom.

'Stoke have been pushed back to ninth place in London one, level on 10 points with Sutton and Epsom - who are in the relegation zone - and one behind Old Colfs in eighth.

It makes this weekend's away clash at Bishop's Stortford - who are in seventh place with 15 points - vital to the ongoing battle for survival.

Dixon said: "It's a game we have to win. The last two performances have shown how well we can play, but the end result has let us down.

"Our scrumagging wasn't right on Saturday, so that's an area we've been working on hard this week in training.

"It's frustrating when you get shoved off the ball when you're in good scoring positions, which is what happened at London Scottish.

"We've hit the scrum machines, with Lee Johnson giving us guidance, so it's a facet to our play I want to see a vast improvement in during tomorrow's game. But I know we will do better because we have to if we are to win."

Dixon said he believes getting the fluidity and timing between the tight five to be the final key to an efficient team performance.

He said: "All other areas are good. We won all our lineouts on Saturday and even stole some of theirs, while the backs scored some good tries running from deep.

"Once the scrum is right and we cut out lapses in concentration - our bad 10-minute spell at Scottish cost us the match - we will be on top of our game."

He added: "The boys are ready to put in a good performance at Stortford. We've been watching videos of our previous game with them and it's been good in highlighting weaknesses we can punish."

Dixon delayed naming his team until after last night's training session, but doesn't expect there to be too many alterations to last Saturday's side.

He said: "Competition for places is good at the moment but there are only one or two positions I am considering making changes for. I will have to see how players do in training before I decide."

Dixon said getting a win would ensure 'Stoke start their season's finale on a high, as there are just five games to go.

"The target is to win the next four matches because we don't want to go into the last game of the season needing to win to stay up.

"We need to make sure we are safe by then, and the boys know what is required of them. The good thing is they are ready and playing with confidence, taking a real intensity into our preparations as individuals and a unit."