BASINGSTOKE head coach Jim Kelly believes his side are capable of claiming a top three finish in National Three London – but admits that performance levels must improve if this is to be realised.

’Stoke bounced back from a heavy defeat at the hands of Jersey by winning 35-30 away at Diss last weekend. This caused a split in the league, with an eight point gap now separating seventh-placed Basingstoke and North Walsham, who are eighth.

Kelly is pleased to be in the leading pack but has his sights set even higher.

“It’s good to be in the top section but I want to be up there challenging,” he said. “My view is that this team is capable of finishing in the top three and that is what we need to commit to going forward.

“I do not want to come to the end of the season comfortable in mid-table but wondering what might have been.”

However, while he has faith in the ability of his players, Kelly knows they must play better if they are to move further up the table.

“When we play the top teams we seem to perform better, while we do just enough against the others,” he said.

“That is something I am aware of and that needs addressing. I have sent an email out to the players giving them my thoughts on where we need to improve.

“It was the same old story at Diss on Saturday. In terms of performance I was not happy at all and the players were not either but, at the end of the day, we have gone away to Diss and come back with a win without playing well, which shows what we could be capable of.”

Kelly’s side face another tough test on Saturday, when second-placed Old Albanians will visit Down Grange (kick-off 3pm).

The Hertfordshire side have won eight of their last nine and have a 100 per cent record away from home. They will travel to Basingstoke with plenty of confidence but Kelly is sure his side have enough quality to come out on top.

“There is nothing for us to fear,” he said. “We are at home and have got to believe that we can beat anyone on our own ground.

“Old Albanians will be a good all-round team. They will look to dominate through their pack but they will also have some good backs who will be dangerous if allowed to play.

“We need to be aggressive defensively and look after the ball better when we have it. If we do that we are dangerous opposition for anyone, as we showed by scoring three tries against Jersey.”

’Stoke will continue to be without Simon Buckland, who is thought to be a couple of weeks away from making a return. However, scrum-half Jamie Fish will be back after missing the Diss game due to illness, while back row Sam Harding, who had to be replaced after complaining of blurred vision, is also expected to feature.