Chinnor coach Jason Bowers says they are not far off holding their own in National 3 South as they prepare for tomorrow’s trip to Canterbury.

Bowers’s side are second from bottom and five points adrift of safety, but they have not lost heavily since the opening day of the season.

“We are getting better each week,” said Bowers, whose team were unlucky to lose 18-11 to third-placed Rosslyn Park last time out.

“If we can just turn our pressure into more points and beat some teams by Christmas, we should be OK.

“We are playing good rugby. We just need to get a fair wind and a good bounce and everything will be fine.”

Chinnor give a debut to Oxford Brookes University captain Duncan Williams at lock.

He replaces fellow student Sam Black who has an ankle ligament injury.

Hooker Arthur Ellis returns, as do backs Richard Williams, Alex Wallace and Tom Shiel.

Centre Trevor Powell is unavailable.

Henley Hawks break new ground with a visit to Bristol side Dings Crusaders.

Director rugby Jason Forster has an almost full-strength squad, with prop Hugo Gentilli, who is recovering from a dislocated shoulder, the only major absentee.

Flanker Stean Williams, who lives two miles from Dings, returns after a head injury.

South African prop Johan Ferreira will make his Oxford Harlequins debut in tomorrow’s South West 1 trip to Bournemouth.

Ferreira played for Amori Catania, a Sicilian club in Italy’s first division, last season, and should make a big impact for Quins.

Prop Peter Boulton and lock Angus McDowell (ankle injury) are both unavilable, so Paul DeLange moves to the second row and Dave Needham returns at hooker.

Flanker Ferdi Gerber is back on the bench after an injury lay-off, while Nick Spence is preferred to Duncan Lynchsmith on the wing due to his greater speed.

Coach John Brodley believes half backs Anthony Cope and Mark Forth will hold the key to victory.

He said: “I have one of the best half back pairings in the league, and expect them to dominate games mentally and physically.

“I will show them playing options, but they must make positive decisions on the field depending on the circumstances. I have full confidence in their abilities.”

Wallingford should have kicker Jackson Sayce back for their South West 2 East clash at second-placed Maidenhead.

Johnny Collett returns at centre, Henry Venners moves to full back and Angus Brettel drops to the bench.

Wallingford coach Chris Norrington is looking for an improved display after last week’s disappointing 21-20 defeat at Trowbridge.

“We had enough chances to win two games, but we have also won a couple of tight ones this year, so maybe it was our turn to lose one.

“They even said they were lucky to win.

“It doesn’t get any easier with Maidenhead, but that’s why we are in this division.”

Witney have both Campbell brothers in their squad for their Southern Counties North derby with Grove at Hailey Road.

Flanker Carl returns on the bench, while scrum half Gareth starts, but Henry (injured) and James Lamb (unavailable) miss out.

Oxford host Gosford All Blacks in confident mood after winning their last five matches.

Gosford will be without last week’s hat-trick hero Tommy Newell.

Chinnor (v Canterbury, away): from Winpenny, Ellis, Whelan, Eckert, Cawston, Hutchings (capt), D Williams, Jackman, Jackson, M Williams, Hastings, Rowley, Prescott, Hewitt, Oxley, R Williams, Wallace, Shiel, Serrano, Brown.

Henley Hawks (v Dings Crusaders, away): from Smith, Shaylor, Flammia, Bagggett, Wells Davies, Haynes, Turner, Simmons, Gaunt, Hancock, Fuller, Milford-Scott, Tattersall, Matthews, Clark, Hoosen-Owen, Penny, Nixon, Green, Payne (capt), Dupee, Williams, Tuckett, Hennings, Clements.

Oxford Harlequins (v Bournemouth, away, meet 11am, Southern Bypass): H Jones, N Spence, Sevier, Spottiswoode, Noyce, Forth, Cope, Chadbone (capt), Needham, Ferreira, Pearson, DeLange, Goodger, Young, Nicholl. Reps: Gerber, Campbell, Sewell.

Wallingford (v Maidenhead, away): Venners, R Turner, Collett, Holton, Sayce, Pooler, Viljoen, Blaszko (capt), Mount, Keable, M Turner, Lewis, Bailey, Chapman, Jenkins. Reps: Brettel, Hill, tbc.

Witney (v Grove, home): A Hicks, L Collins, Tustin, Strutt, Monks, G Bibby, G Campbell, Brocklebank, Groebblar, Richens, C Bennett, Fowler, Worrall, Caffekey, J Hicks (capt). Reps: Serle, C Campbell, Rollinson.

Oxford (v Gosford All Blacks, home): from Byles, Hartley, Recchia (capt), Olley, Tyler, Longuet-Higgins, Smith, Walters, Hopper, Turner, Mason, M Viner, MacDonald, Walker, Miller, W Thompson, MacClennan, A Viner.

Gosford All Blacks (v Oxford, away): Stewart, E Newell, Buckingham, Thiele, Grant, Holburn, T Ellis, Baughan, Lucas, Brogan, L Burbidge, M Burbidge, Griffin, Hughes (capt), McNally. Reps: Benito, Beesley, Bodinham.

Gosford All Blacks 2nd (v Aylesbury Athletic, home): Eynon, Barrett, Flynn, Marno, Willberg, Loxton, Blunsden, Strong, Heydon, Wittet, Stepney, Clinkard, Lloyd, Major, Gardner. Reps: G Ellis, Murray, Cooper, Good, Nicholls, Sheppard, Walker.

Oxford Harlequins 2nd (v Reading Abbey, away, meet 12.30pm, Southern Bypass).

Oxford Harlequins 3rd (v Thatcham, home, meet 1pm, Southern Bypass).

Oxford Harlequins 4th (v Littlemore 2nd, away, meet 1pm, Southern Bypass).