Oxfordshire bid to reach the quarter-finals of the country's premier competition for the first time since the 1980s on Saturday when they take on arch rivals Berkshire at Banbury Central.

Team manager Bob Gilkes makes a couple of positional changes from the line-up that beat the Isle of Wight in their last outing. The experienced Robin Hewson switches to No 3 to Alan Ley, while team captain Baden Sparkes moves over to skip Bob Mackie's rink.

Both Oxon and Berkshire have beaten Hampshire and Isle of Wight in their previous group encounters, so this is a winner-takes-all encounter, with the winners assured of a place in the last eight on July 28.

Oxfordshire will be out to take some revenge for last year, when Berkshire pipped them by just two shots for a quarter-final spot.

Boss Gilkes feels his men have a good chance this time around.

He said: "Berkshire are a good team and we certainly won't be treating them lightly, but I think we can get through."

Playing at Banbury is a bonus for Oxon, who are assured of good support from the county bowls fraternity.

The draw for the last eight is expected early next week, with the quarter-finals on neutral territory and the semi-finals and final taking place after county week at Worthing in September.

OXFORDSHIRE LINE-UP

S Richens (Carterton), A Wise (Carterton), R Mackie (West Oxford), B Sparkes (Carterton).

A Martin (Chipping Norton), L Campion (Banbury Central), G Lucas (Banbury Borough), Greg Moon (Banbury Borough).

C Whitehead (Summertown), B Lambourne (Shiplake), R Hewson (Summertown), A Ley (Summertown).

D Hall (West Witney), George Moon (Banbury Borough), R Buckett (Stuarts), A Prew (Banbury Borough).

D Clanfield (Carterton), C Carpenter (Banbury Borough), M Charlett (Summertown), R Sampson (Summertown).

M Petersen (City & County), C Allen (Summertown), G Allen (Summertown), H Watts (Summertown).

Reserves: C Barrett (Stuarts), P Comley (Rover), R Clanfield (Carterton), J Gamage (Cotswold), D Crane (Headington), D Sharpe (Banbury Borough), N Wallace (Summertown).

* South Oxford BC's men's fours competition, sponsorsed by local bookmaker Steve Carter and licensed victuallers trader Guy East, attracted ten teams, with Oxford City and County beating South Oxford in the final.