HOOK and Newnham Basics captain Matt Love admits that Saturday’s trip to Hursley Park as a “must-win game”.

It has been a slow start to the season for Hook, who have lost three of their first four games and sit third-from-bottom in the Southern League Division One table.

They lost twice last weekend, being beaten by Basingstoke and North Hants in the league on Saturday and being knocked out of the Southern Electric t20 Cup by Premier Division leaders Havant the following day.

Next up is a trip to Hursley Park, a team who have lost all of their games so far this season and sit just below Hook in the standings.

“We are treating this as a must-win game,” Love said. “We are not worried at the moment, but we do not want to get embroiled in a relegation scrap.

“We need to get our batsmen firing for the second half of the campaign. There are three or four of us in the top order who are not getting runs, but I am confident that we will turn things around.

“As a top five, we have got a lot of experience. We know how to bat, but it has not seemed to click this year.

“It’s probably the best bowling attack we have had since I have been at the club, but it does not mean much if the batsmen are not firing.”

Hook will be without bowler Gary Binns for the trip to Hursley Park and Love is set to replace him with Matt Buckingham, an extra batsman. Spinner Anik Divecha is expected to be fit, despite injuring his knee while fielding against Basingstoke.