WILL Croker is desperate for Bournemouth to avoid being known as a team which flatters to deceive.

With the halfway point of the National Three South West campaign looming, Lions sit seventh in the standings with a mixed bag of results behind them.

And speaking ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Old Redcliffians at Chapel Gate (2pm), head coach Croker admits there is still work to do.

He told the Daily Echo: "If our half-term report were to say anything, it would say 90 per cent for effort but probably only 50 or 60 per cent for what we've attained.

"It's about improving on marginals. If you were to look at our results and put a five per cent swing the other way, we would be significantly further on.

"It's easy to make excuses about it being a new and young team but we've been playing together for about 18 months with pretty much the same group.

"We can't use those excuses any more. We've got to be better in tight situations. There are too many times where we come out on the losing end.

"Whether that's a mental fragility we have to fix or a fitness issue, we have to work out the solution, otherwise we will be a team which constantly flatters to deceive.

"We are playing against big teams and I'm getting fed up of being told we're the best these teams have played against.

"It starts off being quite a nice thing to be told but it almost gets to the stage where it's ridiculous because we are sitting in mid-table despite being the best team all these teams have played."

Lions are without unavailable trio Mike Treloar, Robbie Boyd and Eddie Edwards this weekend but Jack Hennings and Sam Hardcastle should recover from knee problems.

Front-rower Andy Spikings was last night due to undergo a fitness test on a calf injury, while captain Alan Manning's rib injury restricts him to a spot on the bench.

Croker added: "We narrowly lost to Old Reds twice last year and they are clearly a good side as they are doing well in the league. But we don't fear anybody.

"We have back-to-back home games which makes a big difference heading into Christmas. If we can take maximum points from those, we will be in and around the top five which is certainly no disgrace in this league."

Lions: Spikings, Richardson, Firetto, Kenneally, Levey, Hennings, McDonald, Rees, Hardcastle, Davies, Roberts, Chislett, Gleadowe, Everett-Bolter, Hancox. Replacements: Cawley, Manning, Jeffes.