HEAD coach Craig Burrows says defeat on the opening day has left Oxfordshire with a straightforward task – win their next two games.
Oxon picked up a bonus point in last Saturday’s 27-21 loss at Warwickshire in the County Championship Shield.
They host Buckinghamshire, who top Pool 1 on points difference, at Banbury’s Bodicote Park tomorrow (3).
Burrows is now under no illusions about the importance of this weekend’s match for their hopes of reaching the knockout stages as at least the best runner-up from three pools.
He said: “To lose the first game it is difficult to get out the group now.
“But we need to win the next two games to give ourselves a chance of qualifying.”
TOMORROW’S SQUAD
Oxfordshire: from Eckert (capt), C Chilvers, Walsh, J Chilvers, Martin, White, Bellinger, Gratwohl (all Grove), Hyde, Lane, Bennett, Lamb, Monks, Haire (all Witney), Purchase, Boulton, Neal, Yeats, Robinson (all Oxford Harlequins), Wiese (Bicester), Jeffries, McKinley, Sadler (all Wallingford).
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