MEL CLEWLOW admits Canterbury Ladies may have to set their sights a bit lower than usual in the Slazenger English League this season.

The Polo Farm outfit have consistently been one of the country’s leading sides over the past five years, but playing restrictions imposed on England squad members ahead of next year’s Beijing Olympics threaten to disrupt their campaign.

The availability of Clewlow, Cathy Gilliat-Smith, Becky Duggan, Natalie Seymour and Hayley Brown could all be affected and Clewlow feels because of that a title challenge is unlikely.

The experienced England international, who is in her first season as player-coach at Polo, explained: “I’d love to finish in the top two and make Europe but I think that’s probably unrealistic."

Duggan, Seymour and Brown are all available this weekend's trip to Poynton, but Clewlow and Gilliat-Smith will have to wait another week before they are free to play.