Head coach Craig Burrows believes Oxfordshire’s pace out wide could play a vital role in their County Championship Shield crunch match against Leicestershire at Chipping Norton tomorrow.

With two wins apiece and ten points each, Oxfordshire head into the weekend trailing Pool 1 leaders Leicestershire only on points difference.

A win will seal Oxfordshire’s place in the semi-finals, but defeat would leave them in the precarious position of hoping they are the second-best placed team out of the three groups.

Having watched a video of Leicestershire’s 36-5 win over Berkshire, Burrows is under no illusions that the visitors will look to dominate up front.

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To counter-act that, he hopes to use the pace of full back Jack Robinson and wingers Ed Yeats and Joe Mills.

“We’re looking to play an expansive game,” said Burrows.

“Leicestershire are a totally different proposition.

“Their strength is up front, they have a very big, powerful pack and they rarely go outside ten.

“We’re looking to put a lot of pace in there to move the pack around and exploit the space that we have seen on the video, especially out wide.”

After convincing wins over Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, Burrows is handing off any thoughts of finishing runners-up in the group and believes the result will take care of itself if Oxfordshire show their potential.

“I am not thinking about that (finishing second) but we have just got to concentrate on the performance,” he said.

“A long as we put in a performance like the squad is capable of we will be absolutely fine.

“It’s simple – we win, we go through.”

Oxfordshire make six changes.

Martyn Walsh replaces the unavailable Pete Boulton in the front row, while Dave Wells comes in for Rich Haire at open-side flanker. Jack Horwood returns to the bench.

In the backs, Guy Nicholl partners Matt Clarke at centre in place of Francois Weise.

Robinson switches to full back, while Yeats starts on the wing.

James Monks drops to the bench, while Brendon White is unavailable.

TOMORROW’S TEAM Oxfordshire: Robinson, Yeats (both Ox Harlequins) Clarke (Witney), Nicholl (Grove), Mills (Banbury), Lamb (Witney), Phillips (Banbury), Eckert (Grove) capt, Collins (Witney), Walsh (Grove), Brown, Purchase (both Ox Harlequins), C Chilvers, Wells, Bellinger (all Grove). Reps: O’Dwyer (Banbury), Haire (Witney), Peel (Grove), Horwood, Wiese (both Bicester), Monks (Witney), J Chilvers (Grove).