Lions coach Eugene Eloff has accepted the fact that the fate of the Lions rests largely on the ability of his lesser players to raise themselves up to a higher level.

The Lions are currently at the foot of the Currie Cup log, courtesy of two losses from their first two matches, against the Blue Bulls and the Free State Cheetahs.

Coach Eloff did not mince his words in his usual Monday column on the official Lions website, stating that he felt it was "the same players that aren't putting up their hands and making basic mistakes that are costing us games."

Eloff spoke to this website and said that the problem the Lions were experiencing in terms of not being able to close matches out when they were in a dominant position, was a recurring one.

"It all about finishing," the coach told this website. "We had more than enough opportunities to score tries against the Bulls and against the Cheetahs.

"But we seem to always have one guy that holds onto the ball too long, or someone takes the wrong decision.

"We've been shooting ourselves in the foot like that for a while now. It's been going on since the Super 14, and the same type of thing is happening now [in the Currie Cup].

One can understand the levels of frustration a coach must go through when his charges repeat the same mistakes time and again.

It seems as if the Lions have played themselves into a habit of narrow losses, considering they were very competitive at times during their Super 14 campaign, but seemed to find a way of undermining themselves more often than not.

Eloff delivered a simple yet damning explanation for the lack of progress: "One has to accept that certain players [within the Lions squad] are simply not Super 14 quality."

Despite such a gloomy outlook, coach 'Loffie', as he is called, knows that things can turn around quickly - it must be remembered that the Lions were Currie Cup finalists themselves last year.

"One good win against a strong team is needed," explained Eloff.

"If we won that game [against the Cheetahs], it would have put the guys in a different frame of mind immediately. It's all about self-belief.

"Now, self-belief is a wonderful thing, but you actually have to really do it. I have players in the team that are very good, and play great rugby.

"Then there are players that are average, at Currie Cup level. Those are the players that perhaps just have to make that step up in quality.

"But unfortunately, I have to work with the players I have at my disposal. I don't have the luxury of an arsenal of talent that I can draw from. I have to develop what I have available to me.

The Lions have also had to battle against the seemingly ever-present injury curse. Senior players such as André Pretorius and Jaque Fourie have been absent through injury, as well as other senior members of the squad.

"At the captain's run, Jaco [Pretorius] pulled his hamstring and Ryno [Benjamin] had an old ankle injury that flared up. So it's likely that those two players could be out for two weeks.

"It also seems that Gerhard Mosterd could be out this coming weekend," revealed the coach.

Eloff stated in the early stages of the Currie Cup that it was the Lions' aim to host the Final at their home ground, Ellis Park.

But despite his team getting off to the worst start imaginable, Eloff remains defiant about his team's mission.

"I have certainly not shifted my aim for the season," Eloff said adamantly.

"Look, we've lost two games thus far. At least we picked up a bonus point from an away match. It's just a case for us now where we simply can't afford to lose any more games.

"However, there is still a long season ahead of us. I wouldn't shift our goal this early in the season.

"I think we are close to a breakthrough. I sincerely hope so," said Eloff.

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