There is no doubting the importance of Saturday’s National 3 South West clash between Oxford Harlequins and Old Patesians (2.30).

Should Quins win at the Southern Bypass ground, they will give themselves and Chinnor a fighting chance of finishing second.

All this is weather permitting, but Quins’ determination was shown by the fact that they were due to train on the pitch last night.

“We are preparing for a really big game,” said director of rugby John Brodley.

“Win it and Old Pats are under a little bit of pressure and who knows how they will react?

“Lose it and we will be too many wins away from them.

“But we are having a good season, and whatever the result, that is not the end of it.”

James Eckert comes in at prop for skipper Simon Chadbone (ski-ing holiday).

Chinnor head coach Jason Bowers admits it will take more than supporter power for their home game with Coney Hill to take place.

The last time Chinnor took to the field on December 19, an army of volunteers removed snow from the pitch that morning.

Head coach Jason Bowers said: “The hopes are that it will thaw enough to get the game on.

“There is no way we would be able to clear the pitch ourselves.

“This time we would have to sweep away four inches of snow and that would be too much.

“The chances of playing are 50-50. My concern is that the pitch is frozen underneath the snow.”

Prop Tom Whelan is set to return after a long injury lay-off.

Aaron Lambourne comes in for regular scrum half Gareth Campbell as Southern Counties North leaders Witney visit Newbury Stags.

HOW THEY LINE UP

Oxford Harlequins (v Old Patesians, home): H Jones, Nutt, Maley, Cope, Ricker, Stewart, Sewell, Eckert, Needham, DeLange, Boyle, Cross, Newman, Knapp, Welburn. Reps: Boulton, Purchase, Crapper.

Chinnor (v Coney Hill, home): from Winpenny, Whelan, Webster, Cawston, Pickett, Matt-hews, Hutchings (capt), Black, Gilbert, Mowbray, Hastings, Jackman, Fenwick, Jones, Prescott, Cathcart, Chase, J Hewitt, Stoop, R Williams, Brown, Farr, Wallace, Serrano.

Witney (v Newbury Stags, away): McRoberts, Monks, J Lamb, Strutt, L Collins, H Lamb, Lambourne, Burke, S Collins, Richens, Fowler, C Bennett, Muller, C Campbell, Caffekey. Reps: Serle, Rowles, Overbury.