BOWERS & Pitsea manager Rob Small says he has to play a delicate balancing act ahead of a massive week in the club’s season.

Bowers travel to rivals Basildon United in the quarter-finals of the Essex Senior League Cup tonight (kick-off: 7.45pm) before three crunch league games next week, including a match against second-placed Haringey Borough next Thursday.

And Small says he has to weigh up the importance of the league and the cup ahead of tonight’s game, with Bowers still in with an outside shot of promotion.

The Pitsea-based outfit have won 14 of their last 15 games and sit 20 points off top spot, with eight games in hand, and Small says the next week will show how far his squad have come.

“It is a very difficult situation we find ourselves in,” he said. “I expect the game to go ahead but we are staring at a run of nine fixtures in 21 days which is hard on any team.

“In the short-term, we have Clapton, Ilford and then Haringey Borough after Basildon so a lot could be decided in the next week.

“We need six points from Clapton and Ilford going into the Haringey match or it will be just about impossible to get promoted, but it is very important for the club and its supporters we beat Basildon tonight.

“So it is a question of do I put all my eggs in one basket when, should we lose any of the league games that dream would be over.”

Small said the local rivalry was fierce and he wanted Bowers to secure the bragging rights, while also aiming to secure some silverware for the club in his first season in charge.

Bowers & Pitsea made the league cup final only two years ago, but were walloped 9-1 by Barkingside in the showpiece occasion.

And Small said he would love to progress in the competition.

“The club still have bad memories from that defeat and it would be good to exorcise some demons and go on a run in this cup. We would play either Haringey or Ilford (scheduled to play last night) in the last four so it would be a tough game should we get through.”

“We have brought in another physiotherapist and are using ice baths to aid players’ recovery as this take a real toll on them.

“It is taxing for the players physically and me mentally so we will be looking to rotate things. We haven’t looked convincing in our last two games (wins against Southend Manor and Waltham Forest) so Basildon will be a chance for some of our others players to stake a claim.”