BOLTON Rugby Union Club head coach Nick Holmes has stressed the importance of his side’s ‘must-win’ match against bottom-placed Wigton this weekend in their battle to avoid relegation.

The Cherry and Whites go into the clash four points off safety in the North One West Division with only two games remaining – both on home turf at Avenue Street.

Holmes said: “It’s one that we have to win– there’s no two ways about it.

"We’re battling relegation”.

Bolton came close to securing what would have been a vital win at Wilmslow last time out before a blank weekend over Easter, but eventually fell to an 18-15 defeat.

“It was a bit disappointing, " Holmes added.

"We were ahead at key times in the match but we just didn’t close it out in the end”.

Bolton go into Saturday's game on the back of a six-match losing streak, with their last victory coming at home to Widnes way back in February.

And Holmes knows his side must improve considerably if they are to end that run this weekend.

But Bolton can take comfort in the fact that opposition Wigton have only won one of their last eight league matches and find themselves rooted to the bottom of the table.

The last time the two sides met in December Bolton edged a tight encounter 17-10.

“It was played in very poor conditions with the wind and rain, but we won it in the end," Holmes said.

"We know that they can be a good side and we’re expecting a tough game because of that.”

Bolton’s cause has not been aided by an injury crisis that his hit the club at such a key stage in the season.

Skipper Chris Cockton is just one of many absentees through injury as he recovers from a dislocated elbow but Holmes remains positive ahead of Saturday's basement battle.

He added: "We’re short of quite a few this weekend, it’s not ideal.

"We’ve got at least half the team missing for various reasons but we can win the game.”