OXFORD Harlequins head coach Tevita Vaikona has set his sights firmly on survival after taking increased control of the team.

Vaikona, whose role now includes selection, is confident Quins have the players to stay in National 3 South West, but says they need more depth.

Quins lie 12th in the table, five points adrift of Amersham & Chiltern, whom they visit on Saturday.

“I think the main thing is to make sure we stay in the division, considering what we have gone through,” said Vaikona.

“We have had injuries and have been careless with registration.

“We have not won as many games as we have hoped for and we have lost badly in some of them.”

As for Quins’ squad, Vaikona said: “I’m confident in the guys, we just don’t want any more injuries, especially to key players.

“If our first team is fit, we should be fine, but we don’t have the depth we need.

“We will just have to cross our fingers.”

Since becoming head coach, Vaikona has signed fellow Tongan international Sione Vaiomo’unga, who played at the World Cup.

He would not rule out further signings, but they are unlikely to be more of his countrymen.

“Sione was coming over to travel after the World Cup and there are not many of us Tongans around,” said Vaikona.

“He was just visiting and I managed to persuade him that Oxford is a beautiful place to spend some time sight-seeing and helping us out by playing.

“We’ll look out if other new players are around.”

Vaikona added: “One of things I hope to do is try to develop the brand of rugby.”

The former Tongan international said he will soon be fit enough to play as well, depending on work commitments at Magdalen College School.

But that would only be if he can “add value” rather than unbalancing the team.

Quins captain Simon Chadbone added: “We have got a team spirit building and I am confident that will get us up the table.

“Tevita has made a big impact. It is very simple what we are doing in training, but we are just being committed.”