Witham Hockey Club men’s first-team captain Richard Marshall feels their promotion rivals will be more concerned about them than the other way round as they get ready for an “intense” end to the season.

A run of eight games without defeat have allowed Witham to banish fears of relegation from East League division two south and they are now looking serious contenders to seal a second consecutive move up.

There were no games last week, but Witham head into Saturday’s fixture at Upminster sitting fifth in the table and breathing heavily down the necks of the sides above them.

Marshall said: “Looking at the table, it looks as if Wapping will win it, but between second, third, fourth and fifth, there are only three points separating us so it’s going to be an interesting run-in.

“We know we’re pretty much safe from going down as you can’t really see the lower-placed sides winning all their games and us slipping up as well so it looks as if we’ll at least be in this league next season and hopefully will keep pushing for promotion.

“I think the last four games could be really intense.”