Captain Ian Hawtin believes Oxfordshire will field their strongest batting line-up for years in their Minor Counties Championship Western Division opener against Wiltshire.

And this is despite them missing Rob Williams, one of Oxon's most consistent recent run-scorers, due to work commitments.

The three-day game at Banbury starts on Sunday and sees in-form Oxford batsman Stewart Laudat and Cheltenham opener Keith Mustow return after long absences to bolster the line-up.

Hawtin said: "Stewart has been in good form in club cricket, but he has not been available for the county for the last two or three years.

"He had a few injury problems, so it's good to have him back.

"On paper we've probably got the strongest batting line-up we've had for a number of years."

Mustow has had his own injury problems in the past and with Banbury's Craig Haupt also among the runs this season, Hawtin is confident of testing the Wiltshire attack.

He said: "Wiltshire were unlucky against Kent in the C&G Trophy, so they are a fairly strong side.

"It will be good to see how we get on against them.

"We are really looking forward to the season and given the strength of the team hopefully we can do well."

Also missing for the Wiltshire game is player-coach Jamie Hewitt, who has not fully recovered from his back injury.

As for the venue, Hawtin said: "It's a good wicket and they have good facilities, so it should be a great game."

Oxon finished eighth in the Western Division last year while Wiltshire were fifth.

Oxfordshire (v Wiltshire): from Mustow (Cheltenham), Cook (Oxford), Haupt (Banbury), Knightley (Bishops Stortford), Laudat (Oxford), Porter (Weybridge), Kaufman (Banbury), Hawtin (Bicester & North Oxford, capt), Si Hole (Shipton-under-Wychwood), Lynch (Bicester & North Arnold), Arnold (Banbury Twenty), Phillips (Banbury).