SWINDON Shock player-coach David Colclough admits that his side might have to start thinking about relegation if they fail to beat bottom of the table Southwark Pride today.

After a week off, the New College-based side were due to face East London All Stars last weekend, but that game has since been rescheduled for January, the Shock players are eager to get back on the court having only played once in the last three weeks.

And it was there last outing, a disappointing 95-87 defeat at the hands of Team Solent Kestrells II, that Shock are desperate to put right against the Division Three South cellar-dwellers.

“The last loss (against Team Solent) has left a bit of a bad taste in our mouth, as we blew such a big lead in the last few seconds,” he said.

“The guys are itching to get back and it was nice this week because I had players testing me about training, so they want to train.

“I think we should be back to good, if not full health, I just need to check with Spencer Wells and Matt North who have back issues.

“I don’t want to say any games are easy, but we are playing bottom of the league so if we can get through that without playing them, that is another week off.”

While his opponents are yet to register a league win so far this term, Colclough is still wary of their Division Three South opposition, as Shock are only one place and two points above them in the league standing.

And Colclough believes his side need to learn to close out games and admits he may have to contemplate returning to Division Four should they lose this afternoon.

“We just need to get a win and get our confidence back, we had such good opportunities in the last couple of games,” he added. “I think it is just experience at this stage, a few of the players have some experience but they are playing with guys who don’t have experience.

“It is learning how to close out a game and not let up, I think sometimes when we are up by 20 they think it is over, but it’s never over.

“I don’t know much about them, all I know is that they are bottom of the league so I want to keep them there.

“If we lose this game I think we would have to start thinking about relegation.”