Head coach Andy Pratt warned of the tough task ahead as Canterbury Rugby Club visit fellow strugglers Southend in a game which could produce a ‘massive swing’ in the National 2 South relegation battle.

The city club boosted their survival hopes last time out as they climbed out of the drop-zone with a 22-9 home win over relegation rivals Lydney.

With four games left and the bottom two already doomed, the Gloucestershire side are third-bottom, in the remaining relegation place and four points adrift of Canterbury.

The city club lie just two points behind Southend and with Lydney host title-chasing Taunton Titans at the same time on Saturday (3pm), victory could go a long way to securing Canterbury’s survival.

Pratt said: “It is always a difficult place to go and they will be motivated of course but then so will we.

“It is another big game – if the Lydney was the biggest of the season at that stage then this now becomes it.

“We put in a good performance against them when we beat them at home in the autumn (29-10) but this is a new day and a new set of circumstances.

“The result won’t decide anything but it is a game with potential for a massive swing.

“We are the masters of our own destiny but we have to assume that the other teams around us will win all their remaining games. If you think teams might drop points here or there, then that is how you get into problems.”

Sixth-bottom Clifton and seventh-bottom Launceston will visit Merton Lane in Canterbury’s final two home games, while Lydney also have to visit second-placed Bishop’s Stortford, with Pratt adding: “The games are going to keep getting bigger.”