Swales insists it is crucial that the city side return to their best form during a demanding run of four meetings in the space of five days, starting when Eastbourne visit the Showground for an Elite League B fixture tomorrow (7.30pm).

Swales (right) has seen Panthers drop out of the play-off places following a run of three straight defeats. He expects his men to repair the recent damage by managing a 10-point haul during the two home and two away meetings on the horizon – only half-a-dozen of those are available on their own shale at Alwalton.

Panthers also go to Coventry on Friday, head south to Eastbourne on Saturday and entertain Ipswich on Monday and Swales said: "It is crunch time in the season as far as I am concerned and we have to pick up some serious points from these meetings.

"I really think we need to collect 10 points and there is no reason why we cannot do it. We have no option other than to register two home wins – convincing ones at that – and then pick up points on the road.

"The top four is still within easy reach and we have a couple of meetings in hand over the majority of the teams above us.

"Mathematically finishing in the top two is still possible even though two quality teams have gone clear. It only takes one crash or one injury to wreck a season in speedway."