HORSPATH captain Will Eason admits it is impossible to play down the significance of their crucial clash at home to Slough tomorrow.

With Burnham already relegated, the sides occupy the next two places at the foot of the Division 1 table with just three games to go.

Horspath lost by seven wickets at Tring Park last week and dropped three places into the drop zone.

And Eason knows they must respond.

“It’s a huge game in terms of where we are likely to end up after 18 games,” he said.

“We know we desperately need a win.”

He added: “A few things are going against us – such as I think I have only won one toss in the last 11.

“That’s not an excuse because you have to be prepared to do either, but of those I have lost, only once have we done what I would have chosen to.

“Having said that, our performances have not been good enough and we have to put that right in the final three matches.”

Horspath make two changes with Tom Coleman and Lloyd Belcher returning in place of Adam Krol and Jamie Stead.

“It’s just so tight at the bottom of the table,” Eason said.

“We lost last week and dropped three places, but if we win on Saturday we could go up by that amount of places.”

Great & Little Tew captain Harry Smith is warning his side against over-confidence when they take on Oxford.

Tew are on a roll after winning their last three games, but are still only 15 points above the relegation zone.

“It’s lovely to win three on the spin, especially with how the victory came about last week in the final over,” he said.

“We’re just looking to keep it going until the end of the season, but know Oxford are a quality team.

“Although our confidence is high, we cannot take anything for granted, because we know how strong Oxford are.”

Joe Thomas is added to the squad who beat High Wycombe by three runs on Saturday.

Oxford skipper John Barrett knows his side must improve their batting display.

The title-chasers restricted leaders Henley to 114-8 last week, but fell to 76 all out in reply, all but ending their championship hopes.

“The pitch was challenging and both teams bowled very well,” he said.

“With three games left and Henley so far clear (they lead by 39 points) they are really going to have to mess it up.

“But we’ll just keep going, although face a team that are really in form.”

Mark Beer comes in for the unavailable Richard Musk.

Banbury make one change for their home match against Finchampstead.

Will Briggs replaces the unavailable Josh Megson as Lloyd Sabin’s men look to improve on their fourth place.

“We are just aiming to win as many of our final games as possible and see where it takes us,” he said.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Horspath (v Slough, home): R Eason, Fitzjohn, W Eason, Cosford, Jefferson, Green, Skelton, Faruk, Slatcher, Coleman, Belcher.

Great & Little Tew (v Oxford, home): from Smith, White, Garrett, T Price, Woodward, Lloyd Brock, Adams, Shurmer, Harris, Lawrence Brock, O Price, Thomas.

Oxford (v Great & Little Tew, away): Tong-Jones, Charlesworth, Perkin, Ayub, Mendis, Beer, Fallah, Humphreys, Barrett, Simon, Eltham.

Banbury (v Finchampstead, home): Sabin, Haupt, Clarke, Hill, West, Wilkins, Phillips, Briggs, Wright, Cheema, Taylor.

THAME Town captain Michael Beard thinks his side will need to win their final three matches to secure promotion from Division 2.

Fourth-placed Thame host Chesham tomorrow, the team only three points above them in the table.

With Datchet another six clear in second it looks like being an exciting end to the season, and Beard is happy to be part of it.

“It’s nice to be in the mix at that end of the table,” he said.

“There’s all to play for, everyone has been chipping in of late, which is pleasing.

“But we will probably need to win all three games to make the top-two – it’s very tight.”

Thame name an unchanged side after their one-wicket win at Harefield last week.

Shipton-under-Wychwood are also able to name the same XI for their match at Buckingham Town.

“We always have a good game against them,” said skipper Charlie Brain.

“We secured safety with four or five games to go so the next target is 200 points.”

Leaders Aston Rowant can take another step towards securing the title when they travel to basement side Reading.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Thame Tn (v Harefield, home): Russell, Sutcliffe, Beard, Kanishka, Straughan, Adams, Thomas, Mushtaq, Higgs, Jeffcock, Rooney.

Shipton (v Buckingham, home): Wood, Hole, C Miller, Cross, Sanklecha, Davies, Lewis, Norgrove, Brain, S Miller, Harris.