Nick Rae-Welsh returns to Oxfordshire’s side for the Middleton Cup quarter-final against Kent at Bromley on Saturday.

The Headington man had to pull out of Oxon’s final group game after suffering a nasty ankle injury in a fall on the morning of the match.

But he is fit to play now, and takes over as lead on Alan Prew’s rink from Chris Miles, who is dropped to travelling reserve.

Shaun Claridge, a late call-up for Rae-Welsh as Oxon completed a full house of four wins in their group games with victory over Berkshire, keeps his place at No 3 in Ian Snowdon’s rink.

The prize for the winners is a place in the semi-finals at Worthing next month.

Oxon went down 121-113 to Kent in the Home Counties League at Northfleet on Saturday – but can take some comfort from the fact that their opponents fielded eight Middleton Cup players to the visitors’ four.

Oxfordshire led by six shots after 15 ends, but the hosts finished strongly to take victory and are now hot favourites to be crowned champions.

The visitors won on three of the six rinks with skip Ian Snowdon’s rink of fellow Middleton Cup bowler John Philpott, Paul McGrath and Steve Gilkes starring with a 25-10 success against skip Duncan Hanmore.

Mark Sykes combined with Middleton Cup teammate Lee Young, John McGeough and Will Campion to defeat Alan Morton 22-18.

And Colin Whitehead’s four of Miles, Ted Eley and Richard Barnett provided Oxon’s third success, edging past Paul Barnicott 17-16.

But the damage was done as Calvin Carpenter’s rink of George Schwab, Ian Whelpton and Paul Comley fell to a heavy 27-8 defeat against Ken Wey-and.

Mick Andrew’s side of Steve Gibson, Mark Peachey and Mervyn Gleeson slipped to a 26-22 reverse against Alan Dunn.

And Alan Ley’s four of Mick Nash, Trevor Prew and Chris Earl went down 24-19 to Roger Herridge.

Kent 121 (16pts), Oxfordshire 113 (6) (Oxon rink scores): G Schwab, I Whelpton, P Comley, C Carpenter lost 27-8; L Young, J McGeough, W Campion, M Sykes won 22-18; M Peachey, M Gleeson, M Andrew lost 26-22; J Philpott, P McGrath, S Gilkes, I Snowdon won 25-10; M Nash, T Prew, C Earl, A Ley lost 24-19; C Miles, T Eley, R Barnett, C Whitehead won 17-16.

Oxfordshire (v Kent, Middleton Cup, Saturday): J Philpott, B Lambourne, R Redford, Gr Moon; AJ Docherty, J King, M Charlett, M Sykes; L Young, N Lewis, C Nicoll, H Watts; N Rae-Welsh, P Sharman, S Richens, A Prew; M Petersen, Ge Moon, Ro Clanfield, B Sparkes; K Holloway, I Henwood, S Claridge, I Snowdon.