BUCK SHELFORD, the Saracens head coach, is acutely aware of the importance of two critical matches in the space of four days this week that will go a long way to defining his first season in charge and, possibly, even the future of the club.

Saracens travel to The Rec on Saturday, April 26, to face Bath with an eight-point cushion to defend in the second leg of European Parker Pen Challenge Cup, while, four days later, they entertain Bristol Shoguns at Vicarage Road in a real relegation eight-pointer.

"I think it's going to be a big week for Saracens over the next four days," said Shelford, who has been laid low by a heavy cold this week. "The first game is the most important and we'll worry about the second game after that."

Is survival more important than a place in the Parker Pen Cup Final?

"I think they both come hand in hand," said the head coach. "Making it into the final is a big thing and ensuring survival is important as well. I wouldn't prioritise them in any order but to make a final and drop out out of the Zurich you'd be really brassed off, but to make the final and to stay up would be great."

First on the agenda is a trip to Bath where the reward for the winner is a possible place in next season's lucrative Heineken Cup.

Shelford's plans have been rocked by injuries to Richard Hill (foot) and Thomas Castaignde (Achilles), although both should recover in time for Tuesday, but that is offset by the return from injury of number eight Kris Chesney and the vastly experienced Tim Horan.

"I'm not concerned about the eight-point margin," admitted Shelford. "I'm more concerned about the result. The result is the most important thing at the end of the day and that is performance driven. If you get the performance then you get the right result. I believe it will take a very good side to beat us.

"We can't afford to panic and play the game before it has been played we have just got to keep our composure. We've had a good week, a lot of mental work has gone in as at this stage of the season you don't need a lot of physical work.

Bath are boosted by the return of England full-back Iain Balshaw, after a three-month lay-off following shoulder surgery and England centre Mike Tindall, but are without Jonathan Humphreys (suspended), Mike Catt (hamstring) and Dan Lyle (international duty).

"I expect pretty much the same from Bath, I'm not expecting them to lie down for us," said Shelford. "They are going to be a tough cookie to beat and we have just got to go down there in a positive frame of mind.

"There is only one team we have to worry about and that is ourselves. They are an alright side but they have some very good players who play for them. Some of their early results just didn't go their way, likewise for us, and it's about dotting those i's and crossing the t's very much like the top sides do. We have got to be a bit more assertive when we have leads and make sure we win well.

"We've got some of the senior players back, a couple of them haven't played for a while, but they are fresh and hungry to get out there and do their job."

After a rest day on Sunday and a light training session on Monday, Saracens are back in action for the crunch clash with Bristol Shoguns on Tuesday evening (&.30pm kick-off).

"Pending the result we'll go in with a lot of confidence but notwithstanding that the Bristol game is a one off and we have to front up three days later after playing a big game," said the no-nonsense Kiwi, who refuses point blank to contemplate, or even discuss, the prospect of relegation.

"No-one said rugby was going to an easy game and we are actually at the business end of the season where we need to win."

"There might be a few selection changes but hopefully we will get through the Bath game unscathed and will have a full squad to chose from for the Bristol game.

"They (Bristol) have got a very big forward pack and some very fast backs and I think they are a team that can turn it on if you don't come well prepared. We have to prepare very well for this game in a short space of time and go out and do the business against them. Every team is there for the taking, it's about delivering."

The match intriguing pitches Shelford against fellow Kiwi Peter Thorburn, the Bristol Shoguns coach, who made Shelford captain at North Harbour during their seven-year stint together.

"I talk to him quite regularly and have a bit of laugh and a joke but we are both here to win," said Shelford, who took time out to sympathise with the situation Thorburn finds himself in at crisis-hit Bristol.

"It's not a nice situation for anybody to be in but it has happened to him and I think looking at it there could be a lot of uncertainty in the Premiership." Not least at Vicarage Road.