MALVERN take on third-placed Leicester Lions at Spring Lane on Saturday knowing that they need to make sure of winning at least two of their last three home games to avoid dropping back into the Midlands One relegation zone.

Director of rugby David Robins said: "We have lost our last three league matches. Heavy defeats against Walsall and Broadstreet knocked us back, but the lads were so nearly there against Luctonians last Saturday.

"They played with controlled fire and the passion running through the side was electric. They can consider themselves unlucky, but we now have to draw a line under that and go back to square one."

Leicester have National League ambitions and apparently reward their players accordingly. Amateur Malvern only lost by one score in the second match of the season and believe that they can take the points this time around if players show the commitment and application evident at Mortimer Park.

"We will now have played the top four teams in the league in succession" said Robins. "Our run-in includes games against three of the bottom four, but they won't be easy. Barkers Butts have imported from Coventry, with whom they have an arrangement, whilst Banbury have strengthened their pack with signings from Henley, so we cannot look upon these fixtures as faits accompli."

Malvern bring back Dave Merlin and George Blakeway, whilst Gareth Richards returns from injury, replacing the injured Paul Jenkin. Kick off at Spring Lane is at 2.30pm.

Meanwhile, Malvern's North Midlands Cup semi-final (March 24) opponents, Bromsgrove, sent out all sorts of warning signals with a record win against Newport last week, scoring 18 tries and 116 points to put themselves joint top in their bid to join Malvern in the top flight.