perch_item_index resets on each pagination page - how to feature only 2 items.

Is there a way to stop perch_item_index being reset on each pagination page? What I am trying to do is the filter results by date but to featured the two latest articles in slightly different layout. See this template;

<perch:before>
<div class="container // stories">
</perch:before>

<perch:if id="perch_item_index" value="3" match="lt">
<!--* DO THE FEATURED BOXES *-->
<perch:template path="content/stories/featured.html" />

<!--* BIT OF TRICK TO CHECK IF THE THIRD ITEM THEN TO DO THE CONTAINER *-->
<perch:if id="perch_item_index" value="2" match="eq">
</div>
<div class="container">
</perch:if>

<perch:else />

<!--* NOW DO THE TEASER BOXES *-->
<perch:template path="content/stories/teaser.html" />
</perch:if>


<perch:after>
</div>
</perch:after>


<perch:after>
    <perch:if exists="paging">
        <div class="pagination pagination--news">
            <perch:template path="pagination/default.html" rescope="parent" />
        </div>
    </perch:if>
</perch:after>

But what is happening is that the first two items on each new pagination page (page 2/3/4 etc) are being featured. I only want to feature the top 2 on the first page.

I did think about using perch_item_first but this wouldn't help me with the second item.

Any ideas?

Thanks, Terry