CAPTAIN Ian Crosby accepts it is a long shot to win all five of their remaining matches, but believes it will be essential if Oxford are to beat the drop.

The bottom side are still without a victory in Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League Division 1 and are 53 points adrift of safety.

Arch rivals Horspath, who sit just a place above the relegation zone in eighth, are their opponents tomorrow.

However, Crosby says all that matters is Oxford secure 25 points and use it as a springboard for a further four victories.

He said: “It is irrelevant who we are playing, we just need to win – it makes no difference.

“We need to put in a good performance and try and get the win – we need five, it is as simple as that.

“We have not played well enough and if we don’t now we will go down.

“It's a long shot, but it's the only way we can look at it.”

Opening batsman and wicket-keeper Ryan Carters has returned to New South Wales and is replaced by Phil Warson.

With the absence of Carters, bowler Mark Beer steps up from the second XI as Oxford’s overseas player.

The New Zealander replaces the unavailable Will Rooney.

Horspath captain Will Eason is also under no illusions about the importance of victory and believes his side can go a long way to easing their own relegation fears tomorrow.

He said: “We are getting towards crunch time now and every game is vital that we pick up points.

“The match does not need much more building up than the fact it is against Oxford, but a draw now is not good for either of us.

“We both need a win so hopefully we can get the 25 points.”

Horspath make three changes from the side that drew at Burnham last weekend.

Dominic O’Connor, Steve Green and Tom King drop down to the seconds.

Bowlers Milly Faruq and Pat Foster return, along with opener Harrison Ward.

Eason said: “To have them back for a big game is a massive boost for the team and for the club.”

Banbury host mid-table Burnham looking to get their title bid back on track.

A three-wicket defeat to league leaders Henley last week has put Luke Ryan’s side 18 points off the pace and seen them drop down to third.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Oxford (v Horspath, away): Sutherland, Perera, Davies, Barrett, Eltham, Mendis, Crosby (capt), Morgan, Simon, Beer, Warson.

Horspath (v Oxford, home): R Eason, Ward, Phillips, Mould, Ali, W Eason (capt), Price, Davies, Skelton, Faruq, Foster.