Oxfordshire must win and then have calculators at the ready to see if they will reach the County Championship Shield semi-finals on Saturday.

Victory over Essex at Chinnor (3) should be enough for Oxon to reach the last four as the best runners-up – and there is still an outside chance they can win Pool 1.

With Buckinghamshire and Berkshire, the potential second-placed sides in Pool 3, both having a negative points difference, the other key match for Oxon is Notts, Lincs & Derbys v Cumbria at Mansfield.

Cumbria may be favourites for that clash, which would leave Oxon most likely to need just a ten-point win to progress to face the winners of Pool 3.

Whatever happens, Oxon’s destiny is not in their hands after last week’s 33-12 defeat to Leicestershire at Hinckley.

Oxfordshire welcome back forwards Stan McKeen and Adam Pearson, who join Jason Welburn competing for the No 8 shirt, plus backs Kenny Se-well, Sam Stoop and Jeff Stewart.

Fly half Roger Sevier (Grove), front-row forward Simon Chadbone, lock Andy Boyle (both Oxford Harlequins) and veteran prop Simon Matthews (Chinnor) are added to the squad.

Head coach Richard Will-iams said: “We are still in the competition. Our points difference is still strong and we are keen to put things right against Essex.

“Leicestershire were a very well-organised side and have been together for three or four weeks. We have got the talent, but just didn’t play very well.”

He added: “The players are disappointed with last week’s performance and have worked hard in training this week.

“Everyone is still upbeat and confident of progressing.

“We have drawn a line under the Leicestershire game and are excited about Saturday’s challenge.

“The players’ application and execution wasn’t up to the high standards that they set in the first game against East Midlands.”

Oxfordshire: from Stewart, Forth (both Oxford Harlequins), Clipsham (Grove), Stoop, R Williams, J Hewitt, Woodhouse (all Chinnor), N Sevier (Grove), Cathcart (Chinnor), R Sevier (Grove), Burns (Wallingford), Sewell (Oxford Harlequins), Winpenny (Chinnor),Eckert (Oxford Harlequins), Copperwheat (Ampthill) Henk (Oxford Brookes), Pickett, Whelan, Matthews, Hutchings (capt), Black, Mowbray (all Chinnor), McKeen (Oxford Univ), Nicholl (Grove) Newman, Knapp, Welburn, Pearson, Boyle, Chadbone (all Oxford Harlequins).