Thame United are set to give former Oxford City defender Lewis Craker his debut after he agreed to join them from Southern League Division 1 rivals Brackley Town.

And, should the paperwork be done in time, the centre back will go straight into the side when they travel to Brackley to take on his old teammates.

Craker, who left City in the summer to go to St James's Park, is highly-rated by Thame boss Mark West.

"He'd be a really good signing. Lewis is a big, strong lad," said West. "We have only two centre halves at the club at the moment. He's a natural leader."

Matt Miller could also make his first start after signing on a month's loan from Ryman League Premier Division strugglers Slough Town.

Thame will be up against a familiar face in defender Andy Williams who left Windmill Road in the summer for Brackley.

West added: "I would have been happy to play against Oxford City on Monday as was Andy (Sinnott), but the referee was not happy with parts of the pitch which were frozen.

"So we're raring to go. They are going well, but if we win, we can get within three points of them."

Oxford United reserve team player Angus Mackay could make his debut for Brackley after signing on loan.

Striker Andy Baird is fit to play having come through unscathed after coming on during the second half of the 2-0 defeat at Bedworth United on Monday.

Oxford City are boosted by the return of defender Robin Antonowicz for their home game with Ashford Town.

The centre back returns after spending Christmas in Newcastle. He was due to miss his first game of the season on Monday against Thame, before the postponement.

City, who broke their season-long hoodoo in the last game of 2004, will be at full strength.

Manager Andy Sinnott said: "It's important to win, because they are just above us in the league. It has been a relief to get that hoodoo over."

Banbury United's leading scorer Howard Forinton is hoping to shake off a back injury in time for their Premier Division trip to basement boys Solihull Borough.

Abingdon Town are without a game until January 8, when they host Witham in Ryman League Division 2.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS

Thame Utd (v Brackley Tn, away): from Smith, Stewart, Avery, Joyce, Wilson, Lane, Gardner, Merritt, Mills, Jones, Channon, Moore, Mitchell, Perna, Weirich, Franklin, West, Miller, Craker.

Brackley Tn (v Thame Utd, home): from Knight, Mackay, Crosby, Wallbridge, Williams, Glynn, Dunlop, Beckett, Wickens, Baird, Slinn, Foley, Craker, J King, N King, Ford, Dore.

Oxford C (v Ashford Tn, home): from Finlay, Takriti, Steedman, Antonowicz, Brown, Freeman, Doyle, Durrant, Ballard, Harper, Simpson, Smillie, Butler, Mitchell, Douglas, McCleary, Parker, Hewlett, Lee.

Banbury Utd (v Solihull Borough, away): from Tricker, Fuller, Jackson, Sullivan, Burnham, Stanbridge, Blossom, Forinton, Redknap, Potter, McKay, Turner, Brandish, Allen, Essex, O'Neill.