Oxford University head coach Des Brackett is confident of securing a hat-trick in tonight's Varsity Match at Oxford Town Hall (7.30).

Brackett has seen side win the last two clashes and believes they are in a stronger position than last year to retain the Truelove Bowl.

Brackett said: "We've worked so hard preparing them.

"We think we have got a team that can all box and will hopefully be a bit too strong for Cambridge - I'm going for the hat-trick.

"It's been a long time to get to this position, but there's now no reason why we shouldn't be retaining the Truelove Bowl.

"I'm confident. Normally I'm apprehensive, but this year I think we've done our homework and hopefully we've got it right."

Oxford's nine-man team features three returning Blues in featherweight John McCarthy, middle- weight Carl Walton and lightweight Tom Hughes, who captains the Dark Blues.

Walton secured the decisive victory in last year's contest at London's York Hall and should he do so again, Oxford will have won with two bouts to spare.

Brackett spoke of the great competition for places in his team with Neil Robertson only gaining the light heavyweight slot after defeating Reggie Briggs in "box-off".

As for the Cambridge side, Brack- ett has been thorough in his prepar- ation.

He said: "I know all of them apart from the light-heavyweight and the heavyweight.

"I've seen all the rest of them box and we've had people watch them as well."

Oxford University: John McCarthy (featherweight), Jimmy Robertson (light-welterweight), Ben Sachaman (welterweight), Tom Hughes (lightweight, captain), Stuart Garman (light-middleweight), Ron Highet (middleweight), Carl Walton (middleweight), Neil Robertson (light heavyweight), Peter Anderson (heavyweight).