Homes Counties Premier League preview: Oxford, Bicester, Banbury

Oxford face an early test of their title ambitions in Division 2 West when they take on leaders Henley in a top-of-the-table battle at Jesus College tomorrow.

Rupert Evans's second-placed side stand 15 points adrift of their Oxfordshire rivals, who boast a 100 per cent record after the opening three games.

Sidelined: Mark MurfettEvans said: "I would have thought they are favourites for the league. They have an even better side than last year.

"Unfortunately in the last couple of seasons we have not played well against them. Until then, we had always beaten them."

Oxford are unchanged, with seamer Mark Murfett facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious ankle injury while playing football.

Oxford could easily have been going into tomorrow's game level pegging with Henley, but for just falling short of victory at Marlow last Saturday.

"I was disapointed by the result," Evans reflected. "We did most of the game right. We just had a bad last session which cost us.

Bicester & North Oxford welcome back county skipper Rob Williams for the trip to Radlett in Division 1.

Spinner Paul Jeacock is expected to recover from the hamstring injury that kept him out of Oxfordshire's game with Shropshire in the week.

Despite last Saturday's five-wicket loss to Banbury, skipper Darryl Woods is pleased with his side's form this season, particularly the bowling.

"Last season we relied heavily on Paul Jeacock to do most of the bowling for us," he said. "This season the wickets have been spread around a lot more, with Ben France and Mark Stanway particularly impressive.

"I wouldn't be surprised if either Ben or Mark played for Oxfordshire at some stage this season."

Neal Radford has a niggling knee injury and may not bowl for champions Banbury at home to Luton.

But the former England seamer is set to play as a batsman.

TOMORROW'S TEAMS

Oxford (v Henley, home): Mustow, Eason, Jobson, Plested, I Evans, Krol, Kruger, R Evans, P Evans, Bishop, Curtis.

Bicester & N Oxford (v Radlett, away): Woods, Davison, J France, Williams, B France, Hawtin, Savin, Chapman, Jeacock, Slade, Stanway.

Banbury (v Luton, home): Sabin, Haupt, Smith, Barratt, Shahbaz Ali, Radford, Taylor, Rorich, Hill, Megson, Adams.