LECHLADE batsman Ryan Higgins believes his side require three wins from their final five matches to ensure their Premier One status for a second season.

The Manor Ground men slipped back into the bottom two last weekend when they suffered a six-wicket loss to leaders Bath.

However, with things so tight around the foot of the table, Lechlade still have plenty to play for with only four points separating them and third-from-bottom Potterne.

Freddie Martin’s men welcome Downend to the Manor Ground tomorrow and Higgins is hopeful they are able to complete the double over them after defeating the Bristol-based side earlier in the campaign when they sat at the top of the table.

“If we want to stay up then we need at least two wins, probably three to make sure,” Higgins said.

“We have got five games left and we know that Downend will be a tough game – especially if they have got their Gloucestershire pros.

“But we beat them earlier in the campaign and hopefully we can do that again.

“We have still got to play Frocester and Bristol and we have got to believe we can get something out of one of those – especially Frocester as they have struggled too.”

Higgins also believes that Lechlade have been hampered by the fact they have not been able to field a consistent starting XI throughout the campaign.

“At the start of the season we had boys still at school or at university,” Higgins explained. “Now we have moved into the holiday season where we have players going away.

“It does make it difficult in trying to get a consistent side out.

“The key to us staying up is how Brad Dial plays. He can change the course of a match all by himself.”