Abingdon United boss Andy Slater said his side are capable of reaching the play-offs when they start their Division 1 South & West campaign away to Winchester tomorrow.

Slater, who starts his fourth full season in charge at Northcourt Road, feels that finishing above Oxford City and Didcot Town would almost guarantee his side a place in the end of season shake-up.

"The club has progressed every season that I have been here," said Slater, who has brought in six new players.

"And if we can continue to do that I would be happy.

"If we finish above Oxford City and Didcot I think we will be in the play-offs.

"City have signed a lot of players and will be a strong unit, while Didcot have learned from their experiences of last season."

Slater is anxious to get off to a winning start on Saturday, following last season's disappointing opening spell of games.

He added: "I look at games in batches of ten and if we can get 22 points from those that will have been a good start. That's the aim anyway.

"We missed out (on the play-offs) last season because we had a batch of ten games where we only got a couple of points."

Oxford United legend Alan Judge has replaced Mickey Lewis as coach after the latter re-joined Oxford.

Slater will have to do without Andy Ballard after he joined Eastbourne Borough folowing a successful trial at the Blue Square South club.

"He is a big loss. He was excellent last season.

"But if it doesn't work out, he is registered to play for us."

Tomorrow, Abingdon will be without Anaclet Odhiambo (hamstring) and Michael Alexis (suspended), while Jamie Brooks faces a fitness test on a thigh strain.

IN: Tom Franklin, Billy Beechers, Daniel Meade (all Oxford Utd), Jamie Brooks (Didcot Tn), Josias Carbon (Wealdstone), Kevin Lewis (North Leigh).

OUT: Jermaine McSporran (Oxford C), Andy Ballard (Eastbourne Borough), Scott Davis (Didcot Tn), Jemaine Ferreira (Witney Utd).

TOMORROW'S SQUADS

Abingdon Utd (v Winchester C, away): from Tricker, Peirson, Woodley, Franklin, Organ, Moss, Meade, Carbon, Lewis, McCalmon, Herbert, Smillie, Curtin, Beechers, Younie, J Brooks, R Brooks, Williams.