LIAM Tucker concedes Swindon will be hard pushed to get themselves back in the mix for promotion – but that does not mean the team are going to give up yet.

An eight-wicket defeat at Burbage and Easton Royal last weekend saw Andy Staff’s side drop to fifth in the table and they are now 35 points adrift of the top two.

However, Swindon have played some excellent cricket of late and enjoyed a run of six wins from eight matches prior to last Saturday’s loss, including a victory over leaders Rockhampton.

They will now look to make an immediate return to winning ways when they welcome bottom side Apperley to the County Ground this weekend.

Batsman Tucker says that although the odds are stacked against Swindon to be challenging for honours before the season comes to a close, a return to their previous form could see them ruffle a few feathers.

“I think it will be hard for us to get back in that promotion fight but it’s quite an open league and one where anyone can beat anyone,” insisted former captain Tucker.

“There is still quite a lot to play for between now and the end of the season, so we just have to look to get back to the way we were playing before the Burbage game.

“That was the first time we have played like that so we aren’t going to be pressing the panic button or going back to the drawing board. It was just a bad day at the office.

“With the way we played against Rockhampton the week before, we know exactly what we are capable of if we can produce our best.”

Apperley have yet to register a win, but pushed Swindon all the way when the two sides went head-to-head in Gloucestershire earlier in the season.

Although the hosts will start as big favourites this weekend, Tucker knows he and the rest of the Swindon troops know they cannot afford to take anyone for granted.

“We fancy ourselves most weekends and we go into every game looking to win,” said Tucker.

“They gave us a decent game earlier in the season and it went right down to the final over, so we certainly won’t be taking them lightly.

“They probably haven’t gone as well as they would have liked this year but we know as well as anyone that on their day they can be dangerous.”