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Banbury captain Ian Hawtin says beating the Division 1 leaders will count for nothing if they don’t perform in Saturday’s derby at Oxford.

A late blitz saw Banbury edge out Henley by two wickets last week, and they are now just 30 points behind in second place.

Oxford may have struggled for form of late, but Hawtin is still expecting a real battle.

“It is no good us winning against Henley last week and not performing this week,” said Hawtin.

“They are always difficut games against Oxford.

“We know each other fairly well and I think we have got respect for each other.

“They have got good players and a good captain.”

Hawtin returns to the squad after being unavailable last week, while Simon Hole and Ollie Murrey are promoted from the seconds.

Opening batsman Damian Shirazi is unavailable.

Oxford add spinners Francois Vainker and Rupert Evans to the side that lost at High Wycombe.

Vainker took five wickets in the seconds last week, while Evans is hoping to be fit after a hamstring injury.

“We want to finish the season strongly,” said captain Jason Harrison.

“It was a very poor performance on Saturday, we can’t hide from that.”

Division 2 West leaders Aston Rowant are unchanged for their trip to Thame Town.

Skipper Wesley Morrick, who is set to open the bowling with Tim Miles, said: “We had Ryan Dutton available, but because Thame is a low and slow track, we are sticking with another batter.

“I always expect that Thame will give it a full go.

“But the rumour is that they are not too happy as a camp.

“I hope that it stays that way so that we can roll them over.”

Thame’s acting captain Sam Lachlan, however, retorted: “Everyone is enjoying their cricket and we are having fun.

“It is a bit disappointing that someone says that.”

Thame add seamer Will Rooney and the returning batsman Chris Wynd.

Lachlan said: “It was a really tricky track last week and a bad toss to lose, but the way we battled back was good.

“We are still confident of climbing the table because this league is very bunched up.

“It only takes a couple of players to fire and anyone can win.”

Banbury (v Oxford, away): from C Smith, Haupt, West, Shahbaz Ali, Tew, Hole, Bullick, E Phillips, Hawtin (capt), Blanchard, E Smith, Murrey, J Phillips.

Oxford (v Banbury, home): from Laudat, Harrison (capt), Sharma, Ferraby, Charlesworth, Porter, Crosby, Hole, Mendis, Kennedy, Gilbert, Vainker, R Evans.

Aston Rowant (v Thame, away): Miles, Morgan, Jewell, Watling, Lyon, Whatman, Morrick (capt), Cooper, Lambourne, Penhale, Humphreys.

Thame Town (v Aston Rowant, home): from Lachlan (capt), Parmar, Bhatti, Wynd, P Patel, S Patel, Higgs, Beard, Hogan, O Heath, J Patel, Rooney.