Nigel Baker today told his Haywards Heath players to win their next two games or face the prospect of a relegation battle.

Heath go to bottom side Portsmouth tomorrow, then host struggling Old Albanian next Saturday looking to drag themselves away from the London One drop zone.

They are not the only ones for whom the late glow of autumn could soon become a harsh winter battling to stay up.

Lewes, Bognor and Brighton are in different divisions but find themselves in equally urgent need of a win or two.

All have matches they might fancy they can get something from over the next eight days.

Heath's record of two points from five games includes three narrow defeats, one of them a heartbreaking late set-back at leaders London Scottish.

Serious fears of a second relegation in three seasons can be eased tomorrow.

Baker throws in New Zealander prop Reuben Rahua for a first start and brings back skipper Dave Wattam into the back row.

But he will be pleased when he can stop making changes.

The Heath coach said: "A few home truths were told during the week and I think people know it is do or die for the next two weeks.

"We will then have a realistic idea of where we are in this league.

"We haven't gelled together as a team yet. We don't have that team togetherness.

"We need to stabilise more in terms of who is playing week by week."

The Heath line-up features some unfamiliar names to anyone who followed them on their rise to National Three, though a survivor from those days returns tomorrow.

Vince Rolandi is given a run at inside centre and Baker said: "He will provide a bit of control and experience in that position which is what we need."

Lewes kick-started their season about this time last year with a win at Jersey.

That trip has come and gone in defeat this time and tomorrow's fixture at unbeaten leaders Sutton and Epsom looks a tough one.

But any signs of promise will be welcome ahead of a key fixture at home to Beckenham a week tomorrow.

Bognor's problem in London Three South East has been a failure to hold on to a lead and skipper Rob Parry admits they are not sure how to remedy it.

They were 16-3 up before losing at Gravesend last week and Parry said: "We've been leading at half time in our last three games.

"We have been pushing them hard in training and we've emphasised the need to work hard in the second half.

"It's far too early to worry.

If we had won those three games in which we were leading we would be two points off the top."

Prop Steve Worthington returns after a trip to Malta to play with their national team but a shortage of backs means flanker Jonny Lang switches to inside centre.

Brighton were encouraged by their display in defeat to Eastbourne recently. A trip to unbeaten Dover does not appear to offer much hope of a win but they then visit Beccehamian, who are bottom of the table.

Of the county's promotion hopefuls, Worthing have lost goalkicking outside-half Dan Jones to a trip to New Zealand ahead of their tricky looking fixture at Staines in London One.

Ben Coulson comes into the side and a re-shuffle sees Jamie Stewart-MacDonald take over from Jones at ten.

Sean Bennett is called in at hooker.

  • Chichester have been handed a trip to Winchester in the second round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase. Bognor meanwhile will have to crack the Bank of England. The teams meet at Hampshire Avenue. Both ties take place a week tomorrow.