Bermuda Hogges defender John Barry Nusum believes the team’s two-week break could hinder their chances when they play their first away game of the season against Westchester Flames on Saturday.Hogges were due to take on New Jersey Express at home last weekend but had to postpone the fixture because they couldn’t secure sufficient flights for the visitors during Memorial Day weekend.They return to action against a Flames side who have made a sluggish start to the season, taking just one point from their opening five games, although Nusum has warned his team-mates not to take their opponents lightly.“The lay-off will be a hit to us when you are looking for consistency. You have to remember that these teams have already started their schedule and are in full swing,” said Nusum, who will miss the trip through injury and work commitments.Hogges have made an encouraging start to the campaign, claiming two points form their opening home matches against New Jersey Rangers and Brooklyn Knights.But Nusum believes it’s vital they pick up some wins from their gruelling five-game trip to ensure they remain in the play-off picture ahead of their next home game against Ocean City on June 15.The away trip will see them play five games in eight days against Flames, Knights (June 5), Long Island Rough Riders (June 7) and Express on June 9 and June 11.“It’s a good thing to go undefeated, especially at home in the first part of the season, but there’s still a lot of work that needs to be done and we need to stay concentrated as a team,” he said.“We have two points from our first two games and obviously you want to be getting three points at home but if you don’t lose at home it provides you with a pedestal to move forward.“We felt we played good football in the two home games but didn’t get the results needed; what you don’t want is a lapse in concentration and a break tends to do that to teams.”Although Nusum will be missing, the team will be boosted by the availability of Boston-based Khano Smith.Nusum added: “Most of the good teams in the league are able to get points on the road while winning at home so we have to try and get this type of form as well.“Playing a set of games at home to be followed by three or four games on the road isn’t a hindrance, it is what it is and at the end of the day we have to go and do our job.“If you lose the games then you can say well we were away but for me it gives us a chance to solely focus on the matches rather than what’s going on in life if you were home in Bermuda.”