Thame United boss Mark West has warned his rivals he will resist any attempts to prise away defenders James Saulsbury and Tony Joyce from the Ryman League Division 1 North club.

Oxford City - managed by ex-Thame boss Andy Sinnott - have put in a seven-day bid for team captain Saulsbury, while a similar approach has come from Aylesbury for Joyce.

West, who is without striker Danny Keen (cruciate knee ligaments), midfielders Justin Merritt (knee), Mark Jones (virus), Kevin Franklin (broken leg) and Mark Avery (suspended) for tomorrow's visit of Waltham Forest, said: "People know that we're struggling and they think they can come along and take our best players.

"I don't want to lose any of them. I want to keep them and add to the team next season.

West, whose side have yet to win in 2004, has snapped up former Yeading midfielder John Mills.

"He's only 23, but he's got a lot of experience," said the manager.

"He was an apprentice at Cambridge United, but has been out of the game for a while. He looked sharp in training on Tuesday and I think he's going to be a good signing."

Oxford City will be without the suspended Neil Crosby when he Sinnott the biggest test of his seven-match tenure away to leaders Cheshunt.

Sinnott, whose outfit are looking for their eighth away league win of the season, said: "It will be a good measure of how far we have come. I have seen signs of a big improvement. I think they are enjoying playing football again.

They have taken all the changes on board, and now they have seen it working. We've now won our last three games on the bounce and that has lifted the lads' confidence."

Abingdon Town host Division 2 rivals Kingsbury Town in Ryman Division 2.

Town are third from bottom after last week's 1-0 defeat at Wembley, but manager Paul Berry said: "We should have won that game, but we didn't put away our chances. If we can do that, we will be okay."

Banbury United's new signing Justin Lee makes his Dr Martens League Eastern Division debut against Dartford at Spencer Stadium.

The ex-Oxford City midfielder played in Tuesday's 9-0 Daventry Charity Cup win over Crick, which gives manager Kevin Brock a dilemma on who to leave out.

They will be without injured striker Scott Taylor (groin).

TOMORROW'S LINE-UPS

Oxford C (v Cheshunt, away): from Benbow, Cruse, Smillie, Ballard, Antonowicz, Brown, Shepherd, Lewis, Whitehead, Prescott, Harper, Ferreira, Wise, Dark, Craker, Baker.

Thame Utd (v Waltham Forest, home): from Smith, Mills, Saulsbury, Joyce, Perna, Freeman, West, Mitchell, Goffe, Stewart, Lane, Chowns, Death, Bradley.

Abingdon Tn (v Kingsbury Tn, home): from Hearmon, Aldworth, Beauchamp, Tompkins, Davis, Johnson, Scanes, Brewerton, Joyce, Clarke, Butler, Johnson, Charles, Hough, Trinder, Douglas.

Banbury Utd (v Dartford, home): from Tricker, Blossom, Sullivan, Allen, Fuller, Jackson, Stanbridge, Billington, Robinson, Lee, Potter, O'Neill, Eldridge, Redknap, Simms, Stidder.