It's our cup final – that’s how important Banbury United boss Billy Jeffrey rates Saturday’s crunch Premier Division clash at fellow strugglers Hitchin Town.

Banbury dropped into the relegation zone on Tuesday so a win would see them move above Hitchin, who have a point more than Jeffrey’s side, though Hitchin have played three fewer games.

On Tuesday, Banbury received a confidence boost with a 3-2 extra-time victory against play-off chasers Oxford City in the semi-finals of the Oxfordshire Senior Cup.

Jeffrey, who fought against relegation a number of times when he was a player at Oxford United, said a win at Hitchin was a priority.

“It’s a massive game for us and we’ve got to go there and be positive,” said Jeffrey.

“The players have got to believe in themselves and find that consistency.

“Saturday was disappointing (they lost 3-0 at home to Tiverton), but I was delighted to bounce back against City.

“Against Tiverton we created four or five good chances, but didn’t score. I don’t know whether it’s nerves – I think it’s down to confidence.

“We have a lot of youngsters here and they have to learn, but we haven’t got a great deal of time.

“It was a good performance against City. Craig Faulconbridge (City striker) is a big lad, but we handled him well.

“They had a good side out, but we’re not getting carried away.

“The priority is to stay in this league and if we get three points on Saturday it puts pressure on the other teams. Tomorrow is our cup final.

“As a player at Oxford I was involved in games like this and they are a big test of character, so you have to play with your head as well as your heart.

“But you have to be careful not to get carried away and remember to keep your discipline.”

Arron Stringfellow, who is the subject of a bid from Jeffrey’s old club Rugby Town, Scott Bridges, Ben Milner and Nathan Haisley all return, while David Ston e will make his away debut.

On-loan midfielder Richard Groves is out after suffering an ankle injury playing for Oxford United in their Senior Cup semi-final win against North Leigh.

Oxford City continue their play-off bid with a trip to Bashley.

Didcot Town boss Stuart Peace believes his side will still make the play-offs, despite being on a run of five games without a win.

Didcot lost 2-1 at Cinderford in midweek as their play-off bid continued to stutter, but Peace is convinced their luck will change.

“We obviously need to pick up some results as soon as possible.

“I felt we deserved to win on Tuesday, but luck has deserted us for the moment.

“Fortunately, everyone else seems to be dropping points as well, so we haven’t fallen too far.

“If we can get four wins from our remaining games, we should make the play-offs.”

Paul Powell (groin) is a doubt, although Ian Sampson should return after playing for Oxford United in midweek.

Abingdon United boss Andy Slater has set his team a target of beating last year’s 48 points total ahead of their home clash with basement boys Winchester City.

Slater said: “I’ve reached 40 points, I want us to push on and beat last year’s total.”

Tom Franklin (hamstring) and Julian McCalmon (broken hand) are doubts, while Luke Carnell and Pablo Haysham are on county duty.

North Leigh are out to avenge a 4-0 home defeat at Thatcham.

Manager Mark Gee said: “Thatcham hammered us at our place, and we would love to put one over them and prove that was a one-off.”

Stuart Hole is on holiday, while Jamie Jackson is out injured.

Saturday's squads Oxford C (v Bashley, away): from S Williams, Lambert, Gunn, Ballard, Davis, Bell, Pond, Savage, Malone, Faulconbridge, Faulkner, R Brooks, Rendell, Carbon.

Banbury Utd (v Hitchin, away): from Murrell, Stringfellow, Stanbridge, Buckwell, Bennett, Redknap, Travers, Gardner, Forinton, Gordon, Bridges, Stone, Milner, Peppiatt.

North Leigh (v Thatcham, away): from Herbert, Weedon, Huxley, Dodds, Helby, Allen, Parker, Burnell, Reardon, Hope, McCabe, Sadler, Collins.

Didcot Tn (v Andover Tn, away): from Watkins, Heapy, Williams, Brown, Powell, Harper, John, Mortimer-Jones, Parrott, King, Dutton-Black, Bartley, Hopkins, Sampson, Buckner.

Abingdon Utd (v Winchester, home): from Warrell, Burton, Peirson, Morgan, Beechers, Weedon, Odhiambo, Holden, McCalmon, Herbert, Biddle, Janes, Austin, Franklin, Booker.