ADIE Viveash admits his Cirencester Town side find themselves in a "relegation hole" but the former Swindon star remains as determined as ever to dig them out.

Three consecutive defeats has left the Centurions five points from safety in the Southern Premier Division, and Viveash knows time is fast running out for his embattled side.

With two games in three days against promotion-chasing opposition, starting with a trip to Brackley Town tomorrow, Viveash is targeting the pick-me-up of a six point haul.

He said: "We have got to try and stop this mini rut that we are in because there's a gap opening up between ourselves and safety.

"Every time we lose that gap gets a little bigger and it puts more and more pressure on the next game.

"Brackley may be chasing promotion but we have to go there looking for three points.

"I'm not sure a point will be enough for us at this stage of the season.

"There's still lots of points to play for and my team are real fighters, but we know it has to happen sooner rather than later."

Bashley Town visit the Corinium Stadium on Monday night and Viveash knows home form will be crucial between now and the end of April.

Back-to-back defeats to Rugby Town and rivals Chippenham has heaped even more pressure on Viveash's shoulders, but the manager insists he can carry the load.

"The defeat to Rugby was probably our worst performance of the season, and Chippenham are just a very good side," he said.

"We matched them in the second half and if we perform like that between now and the end of the season we will win more games than we lose.

"We knew it was going to be a tough season but my players are fighters and we will not throw in the towel."

Captain Chris Collins will have a late fitness test on his injured ankle, but Lee Molyneaux and Nathan Haisley should both return after missing Monday's defeat to Chippenham.

The Bluebirds face a stern test themselves as they go in search of a fourth win in five matches away at Tiverton.

Chippenham sit comfortably in the play-off places, just four points adrift of leaders Team Bath, and now look primed for a late tilt at the title.

The Students have three games in hand on Chippenham however, and victory at Tiverton will be the minimum requirement for Adie Ming's men.