Assistant boss Peter Hawkins says Chatham have to avoid the potential distraction of Easter Monday’s crunch relegation clash with Cray and focus on the visit of Soham Town Rangers on Saturday, 3pm.

With just five games to play, Chats are three points and two places outside the drop zone in Ryman League, Division 1 North and face a potentially pivotal clash at second-bottom Cray.

Despite having lost three of their last four games, Hawkins hopes Chats can stun their Suffolk visitors to set them up for a bumper weekend.

He said: “It’s an important weekend for us. I’m not sure about the biggest of the season yet but it is big.

“Saturday is a huge game for us, although sometimes you can be distracted when you have a six-pointer to come on the Monday. We have to try to avoid that.

“It might be that Saturday is even more important because if you can pick up three points there it sets you up nicely and gives you confidence to take into the Monday game.”

Soham are 12th and already safe from the drop and unable to reach the play-offs.

Hawkins added: “If we play like we did (in the 2-1 defeat to title-chasing Harlow) last Saturday, then we’ll be OK."