FORMER Premiership star Tim Collier has warned Lions’ players they must produce under intense pressure if they are to finally realise their promotion dream.

Bournemouth are desperate to avoid more heartache by succeeding where they failed last season in the battle for National Three South West honours.

The Chapel Gate outfit’s bid for glory suffered a setback six days ago when they were beaten by third-placed Redingensians.

Bournemouth’s second league defeat of the campaign cut their lead at the top of the table to just one point – with title rivals Chinnor remaining favourites as they have a game in hand.

With just one automatic promotion place up for grabs, long-time leaders Lions will need to hold their nerve to stay at the summit.

David Dunn’s men visit basement boys Bridgwater & Albion tomorrow before the potentially season-defining home showdown with Oxfordshire big guns Chinnor.

Forwards coach Collier, who plied his trade at the top of the domestic game with Harlequins and Worcester, believes Lions need to be more streetwise as they strive to close in on the championship crown.

The ex-England under-21s second row told the Daily Echo: “There is massive pressure now.

“We have got to get things right for Chinnor. March 24 is D-day in my eyes. We have got Bridgwater & Albion this week and then a weekend off, which is not ideal, then we will go straight into Chinnor at home.

“We have got to get things right on and off the pitch and take it from there.

“The boys have put the pressure on themselves. I say to them every week that we coach them during the week but, on a Saturday, it is up to the 15 what they actually do when they cross the whitewash.”

Should Lions miss out on top spot, the Bournemouth club would then be hoping to triumph via a play-off against their South East counterparts, having missed out at the stage last term.

Collier added: “I think we have slight inexperience when we come down to big pressure games. We have got some youngsters and some older ones who have been around and played a pretty high level of rugby.

“If you cast your mind back to when we played Hartpury at home last season, which was a massive game, we just went into our shells and didn’t perform.

“It is frustrating but the only way you can get experience at this level is through playing.

“I think we have just got to go back to the drawing board.

“We have a game tomorrow and we will probably train next Saturday just to keep everyone together. Then, it comes down to the Chinnor game, which will be massive.”