JUNIOR Paramore admits that the next three games could go a long way towards deciding whether his Basingstoke RFC side are relegated from National Three London.

’Stoke are currently second from bottom in the table, six points from safety after losing their last six outings.

The next three weeks see them play other sides also struggling near the bottom, with a trip to basement side Diss on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm) followed by home games against Havant and North Walsham.

Three wins would leave Basingstoke with a good chance of avoiding the drop – but anything less and they will be left with a mountain to climb as they face some tough fixtures in the closing weeks of the season.

Head club coach Paramore said: “The next three weeks are crucial. If we win all three and get bonus points it will take us right up the table.

“It is still in our own hands – but that could change if we lose the three games coming up. The boys do not want to lose games and none of us want to be part of a squad that is relegated.”

The first of these vital games will see Basingstoke make the long trip to Norfolk to face bottom of the table Diss.

They have lost their last seven outings, going down 47-7 at Gravesend last time out, and ’Stoke won 42-23 when the teams met at Down Grange in October.

The key difference on Saturday will be that it is Basingstoke who face a long coach journey – but Paramore will not allow that to act as an excuse for his players.

“It is a long trip but that is just one of those things and we have to get on with it,” he said. “We won when we went up there to play North Walsham so it should not be a big problem.

“It’s about preparation and frame of mind. We just have to focus on getting there, playing and coming home with the points.”

’Stoke were unfortunate to lose 25-21 at home to high-flying Ampthill last week – and Paramore is looking to build on that display.

“We have got to be confident after the performance against Ampthill,” he said.

“Hopefully we can take that performance through to this weekend and kick on from there.

“We should not have lost against Bishop’s Stortford and it was the same again on Saturday. We are not getting the rub of the green so hopefully our luck will change and the boys are determined to make sure that happens.”

Paramore expects Diss to field a big pack and will be looking for his players to get the ball out wide and around the opposition forwards.

With this in mind, Paramore is hoping that pacy winger Glen Lewis will make his comeback on Saturday, while fellow wide man Steven Edwards could also play a key role.

Paramore himself is a doubt for the game with sore ribs, while Tom Humberstone’s shoulder problem will keep him on the sidelines, meaning that brother Andrew will continue at fly-half.