DETERMINED Alan Manning insists Lions’ promotion dream is still alive – but only just.

The Chapel Gate outfit suffered their second defeat of the National Three South West campaign with Saturday’s 42-21 reverse at Redingensians.

And that has seen David Dunn’s men fall 11 points behind second-placed Taunton, who visit Chapel Gate tomorrow (3pm).

But although Manning confessed a further loss would all but end Lions’ hopes of making the play-offs, the skipper insisted his troops are “big-game” players and can do a job on the unbeaten Somerset outfit to kick-start their season.

Manning told the Echo: “It was a horrible feeling after the game on Saturday. Six or seven of us had bad games and it wasn’t happening.

“It was embarrassing at the start and we let in a load of tries in the first 10 or 15 minutes.

“Taunton will be tough and if we can come away with a win it will show great character. It’s a key game and potentially a decider for us.

“Our hopes for promotion aren’t dead and buried, but if we have another loss, I don’t think we’ll make it.”

Coach Dunn has rung the changes in the centre, with Karim Lynch and Adam Higgins stepping in for Ben Stewart and Scott Chislett. Ed Driver comes into the pack in place of Tomas Ford.

Lions: Wareham, Wilford, Manning, Seward, Forrest, Driver, Le Roux, Kiely, Maidment, Ngapaku, Higgins, K Lynch, Davies, Hearson, Pope. Subs: Chislett, Ford, R Lynch.

Oakmeadians will be looking to keep their unbeaten South West One East run intact when they visit Reading Abbey tomorrow (3pm).

James Croker’s men have racked up five victories to keep pace with fellow front-runners Cheltenham and Marlow at the top of the table.

Full-back Brendon Daniel is rested for tomorrow’s clash, but former Wales international prop Pete Rogers is available for selection.

Oaks: (from) Magnus, Cook, Hare, McTaggart, Morgan, Samuels, Notobartolo, Tryska, Burenivalu, Bell, Mitchell, Rogers, R Stephenson, Atkins, Henrickson, Croker, Ford, Richards, Coughlan, Flower, Hokianga, Davies.

Elsewhere, Swanage & Wareham travel to Wallingford in South West One East, while Wimborne welcome rivals North Dorset to Leigh Park in Southern Counties South.