Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers says they will remain in the promotion hunt regardless of what happens against National 3 South West high-fliers Old Patesians on Saturday.

Defeat at Kingsey Road could leave Chinnor as many as 15 points behind Patesians, who have won seven out of seven games so far.

But Bowers stressed even that would not end their hopes, while also talking up their chances.

Bowers said: “That’s an early call. The top two sides haven’t played each other yet.

“With the bonus-point system in place and being able to pick up five-point wins, I think that makes the league a lot more open.

“One loss either way can mean a ten-point swing and your’re back in it.

“There is a lot more rugby to be played for all teams and we still have our ambition to get back into National 2 South.”

Wing Pip Seymour and centre Ben Hewitt are both in contention after recovering from illness and injury.”

Bowers said Chinnor produced their first “80-minute performance” in beating Maidenhead 52-17, but admitted Patesians will be tougher.

“They are top for a good reason,” said Bowers.

“They come with a well-respected pack and we’ll ceratinly be asking our forwards to front up on Saturday.”

Full back Huw Jones and flanker Tim Knapp return to the Oxford Harlequins squad for their trip to Chippenham after both missed last week due to teaching commitments.

Director of rugby John Brodley said: “We have got one or two bumps and bruises, but the players were quite buoyant at training on Tuesday.

“We worked really hard on our defence.

“We feel quite confident we can score points, but we are conceding too many tries.”

Scrum half James Gaunt comes in for the injured Jack Shaylor (hand) as Henley Hawks visit Canterbury in National 2 South.

Lock Steve Green makes his first appearance of the season, while Tom Stradwick returns at flanker.

Angelo Flammia is on standby should wing Christoph Bart or centre Danny Wells fail a fitness test.

Fly half Jackson Sayce and wing Richard Turner make their first starts of the season as Wallingford host High Wycombe in South West 1 East.

Young prop Anthony Marris comes in on the bench, with the team looking to build on their first win in five matches last week.

Coach Chris Norrington said: “There is a bit more confidence and a positive vibe around the club now.

“We think we can go forward and win a few more games.”

Chinnor (v Old Patesians, home): from Winpenny, Pickett, Cawston, Matthews, Jackman, Gilbert, Black, Jones, Hastings, Mowbray, M Williams, Prescott, Hopwood, Cathcart, J Hewitt, B Hewitt, Seymour, Serrano, Farr, R Williams, Wallace.

Oxford Harlequins (v Chippenham, away, meet, 11.30am): from Chadbone (capt), Nedham, boulton, DeLange, Burrows, Pearson, Boyle, Cross, Welburn, Knapp, Cope, Sewell, Stewart, Maley, Nutt, Ricker, Noyce, H Jones, Crapper.

Henley Hawks (v Canterbury, away): Smith, Birtwhistle, Wells, Baggett, Bart, Fulton, Gaunt, Fuller, Dalgleish, Penny, Atkinson, Green, Stradwick, Dupee, M Payne (capt). Reps: tbc.

Wallingford (v High Wycombe, home): Smith, Holton, Collett, Brettell, R Turner, Sayce, Viljoen, Blaszko, Hill, Keable, D Jenkins, Rowberry, Chapman, W Woodward, Jeffreys. Reps: Venners, Marris, Simons.