ALAN Low has called on his players to make sure that they are doing a whole lot more than bare minimum in their fight for survival in South West One East.

Despite their flying start to the campaign after their Southern Counties South title-winning season last year, the Ballards Ash side have endured a miserable run of results, which includes last weekend’s 32-17 defeat at Witney.

After being one of the early teams in the top three, having recorded six successive wins following an opening day of the season loss to Maidenhead.

However, despite sitting in ninth of the 14-team division, Low’s men are only two points clear of second-from-bottom Oxford Harlequins, who host Bassett tomorrow.

A number of injuries and unavailabilities have hampered the cause, but with players slowly returning to his squad, Low wants Bassett to make sure they up to speed.

“Tim Gallimore was back after 10 weeks against Witney and played the full 80,” Low said.

“The reason he was able to do that is because he does more than just the Tuesday-Thursday training sessions.

“You can’t just turn up for the perceived training sessions – you have to do more at South West One East level.”

Low also feels that the club need to strive for more strength in depth for their first XV.

“At this level, you have look at the depth of your squad. We have got a really good second team, who are the highest-placed second team in Dorset and Wilts One North,” he said.

“The boys who have stepped up have done a really good job, but over a sustained period of time, is the depth there?”

Saturday’s trip to Marston Ferry Road sees Bassett end a run of three successive away matches, with this game rearranged after falling foul of the cold weather on January 21.

But Low says being on the road should not be a problem for his side.

“It is not as if we are playing in front of 60,000 people,” he said. “Being away from home shouldn’t come into the thinking.

“We know quite a bit about their pitch. It is quite narrow. Although you don’t really change the way you play, you have to make sure that you look after the ball.

“It is going to be a tough game. I know we beat them earlier the season but they have gone out and brought in different players, and have picked up.”