SHAUN Goater has billed tonight's clash against Real Maryland Monarchs as "absolutely huge" for Bermuda Hogges.

The Hogges take on the Monarchs at the National Sports Centre tonight at 7 p.m. with the team in desperate need of a victory following hefty defeats against Richmond Kickers and Wilmington Hammerheads.

Hogges President Goater called an urgent meeting with the Hogges squad earlier this week in an attempt to get to the bottom of their sudden loss of form and is now confident his players can return to winning ways.

"The game against the Monarchs is absolutely huge for us now," said Goater.

"We've hit a bit of a low in recent weeks and now we've a chance to get our season back on track.

"I remember being in similar situations as a player myself and that first win after a bad run can make a massive difference."

Although the Hogges have shown genuine signs of progress this season, Goater insists he is far from satisfied with the team's points column and believes the franchise should be further up the table.

"Last season was a severe learning curve for us," he said. "We were new to the league and we didn't know much about the opposing teams' styles. But we're no longer the new-boys and we can't use that excuse anymore.

"It's been a difficult season as we lost the bulk of our squad to the national team for their World Cup qualifiers against Trinidad, and the players have been showing signs of fatigue over the last few weeks.

"But I'm confident we can still achieve a good placing in the league table and it's important we pick up a win against Monarchs."

This season is the Monarchs' first in the USL-D2 and they are currently ninth in the league table, one position above the Hogges.

"The team has been training hard this week in the hopes of turning the season around," coach Roger Fernandez told the club's website. "It all begins with a victory over Bermuda Hogges."

Monarchs' defender Andy Kish added: "This game will not be looked upon as a holiday for us. We are going there with the intention of winning."

Like the Hogges, the Monarchs have won three games this season with those victories against Pittsburgh Riverhounds, Cleveland City Stars and Wilmington Hammerheads.

Three points for the Hogges would see them leapfrog the Hammerheads into seventh position.