Chinnor's title ambitions in South West 1 face a big test on Saturday when they take on high-riding Cleve at Kingsey Road, Thame.

The Oxfordshire outfit stand a point behind leaders Bracknell, with Cleve five points back in third.

Chinnor came out on top 26-22 when the two clubs met earlier this season, which suggests another close encounter is in prospect.

The squad was being selected last night, but skipper Matt Hutchings could be in contention again following a leg injury.

Oxford Harlequins should start the new year with a victory as they travel to bottom club St Ilves, having put 70-plus points on them earlier in the campaign.

Quins make changes to the back row, following the departure of Phil Rowe and Chris Alcock to their respective countries, Ireland and Australia.

Ferdi Gerber, back from South Africa, fills one of the berths, while either Tom Johnson or the versatile Nick Goodger will join him in the back row.

Henley Hawks include three players back from injury in their squad for the long trip to Waterloo in National 2.

Last year's skipper, Liam Wordley, National Academy prop Charlie Beech (from Wasps) and Matt Payne, who has recovered from the injury to his eye socket, are expected to play some part in the game.

Waterloo, beaten 16-9 by Henley at Dry Leas earlier this season, have now climbed up to fifth place and will be a tough test for Hawks as they seek to pull away from the lower reaches of the league.

Chad Ward is set to return from a nagging hamstring injury when Bicester travel to Drifters in the Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division.

Pictured is back row forward Ferdi Gerber who returns for Oxford Harlequins' trip to St Ives.

SATURDAY'S LINE-UPS Henley Hawks (v Waterloo, away): from N Lambden, J Farndon, Danny Wells, Angelo Flammia, Chapman, Simmons, Meenan, Grant, Wordley, Muggridge, Le Chevalier, Alexipoulos, Fuller, Beech, Robinson, Winterbottom, Hurrell, Payne, Green, Williams, Archer.

Oxford Harlequins (v St Ives, away, meet today, 4.30pm): from D Needham, P De Lange, N Goodger, D Payne, J Eckert, F Gerber, P Rowe, P Soper, A Cope (captain), F Jones, A Noyce, A Henley, B Wilson, T Johnson, P Davis, M Preston, H Jones, K Sewell.

Bicester (v Drifters away): from A Spencer, Leverton, Lewis, Nash, Rushworth, R Kenny, Risbridger (capt), Shaw, Barnes, W Morris, Malins, Giles, D Spencer, Nightingale, Thurlow. Reps: from A Morris, N Kenny, A Wilmore, J Davies, C Ward.

Oxford Harlequins 2nd (Redingensians 2nd, home, meet Southern Bypass, 12.45) Oxford Harlequins 3rd (v Tadley 2nd, home, meet Southern Bypass, 1).