Albion midfielder Robert Koren has insisted victory over Stoke next weekend would blow the relegation battle open again.

The Baggies will kick off against the Potters in 11 days seven points adrift of the Premier League safety line, with their goal difference effectively stretching the gap to eight points.

But Koren believes victory over Tony Pulis’s side would re-ignite hope among Albion’s players of an unlikely escape from relegation.

He said: “It will be hard in the future but we need to stick together and be positive. There are eight games until the end of the season and we need to keep believing.

“The next game is against Stoke at home and we will do everything to get three points. If we do that then maybe the fight would be on again to stay in the league.

“We still need to believe and show the desire defensively that we have shown in the last two games.

“Then offensively we need to show some more concentration for 90 minutes and score some goals.

“The next game against Stoke is very important. If we can get three points I think the fight will be open again.”

Koren has warned that the tension in the Albion camp will increase in the weeks ahead, as the scrap to stay in the top flight reaches its conclusion.

But the Slovenia captain insists pressure is no excuse for Tony Mowbray’s men.

He said: “Of course there is a lot of pressure on us and we need to cope with that. That shouldn’t be an excuse or a problem for us.”