Hood's side are without a league win this season

Gateshead coach Chris Hood has urged his players to show their mettle when they take on Batley in front of the television cameras on Thursday night.

The Championship newcomers have lost their opening two league games but Hood hopes the media exposure will have a positive impact on his squad.

"I told the players there's no better way to prove what we're about than on TV," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"The players are desperate to turn around their fortunes."

It has been a tough start for Thunder, with a trip to last season's play-off semi-finalists Whitehaven and the visit of fellow newcomers Barrow.

And despite coming away from both games empty handed, Hood is adamant his side can go on to improve their form.

"People don't get a grasp of how competitive this division is, it's very different to National League Two (where Gateshead were promoted from last season)," he said.

"There's players on loan from Super League clubs, who are full-time athletes, and players who've come from Super League and other high pedigrees background and established clubs.

"It's no different to what we expected, each game's like a cup final and we are working continuously every day to ensure that we perform better than we did the week before."

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