OXFORD captain John Barrett believes the season would be classed as a failure if they fail to secure promotion.

Oxford are second in Division 2 of the Serious Cricket Home Counties Premier League with just one match of the campaign to go.

Victory at Oxfordshire rivals Thame Town tomorrow would clinch an instant return to the top flight.

Oxford, who name an unchanged side, are ten points clear of third-placed Amersham, but with their promotion rivals facing bottom side Cookham Dean, Barrett knows his side cannot afford any slip-ups.

“To be this close and not do it now would be a bit of a failure and very disappointing,” he said.

“It is nice to be ten points clear going into the last game, but I would expect Amersham to beat Cookham Dean, so we will have to win.”

Oxford could have sealed promotion last week, but their home match with Gerrards Cross lasted just 25 overs before the weather intervened.

“Once the first deluge came, we never really though we had much chance of getting back out there,” Barrett said.

“It was then a case of waiting and seeing if Horspath did us a favour and beat Amersham, which thankfully they did.

“It’s in our hands now. Thame are safe, but that counts for nothing – it’s up to us to perform as well as we can and get the job done.”

Sam Lachlan and Liam Evans replace Ollie Sutcliffe and Chris Jeffcock in the Thame side.

“We have beaten the second and fourth-placed teams in recent weeks and we want to end our season on a high,” said captain Mike Higgs.

Horspath will be popping the champagne corks after their match at home to Datchet.

Even if they fail to pick up the point they need to win the league outright, they have lost fewer games than Oxford, who can only level their tally.

Will Eason says Horspath will likely party long into the night after securing the title, but the captain is determined his side do not ruin their proud record.

“We are desperate to finish the season unbeaten,” he said.

“The way we have bounced back after being relegated by one point last season is excellent.”

Jimmy Phillips is replaced by Steven Green in their only change.

Steve Richards and Alex Jewell come in for Andrew Tolson and Tom Needham in for Aston Rowant’s game at home to Buckingham Town.

“It’s been a frustrating season,” said skipper Josh Smith.

“When we played well, we were brilliant. But when we played badly we were awful.”

Shipton-under-Wychwood welcome back Joe Barrett and Andy Hemming for their trip to Gerrards Cross.

Barrett was working at Lord’s last week, while Hemming has returned from a five-week honeymoon.

Tim Senior and Steve Carvey drop out.

“We could have had a better season, but generally have hit my expectations,” skipper Charlie Brain commented.

In Division 1, Banbury travel to Slough while Great & Little Tew host Burnham.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Oxford (v Thame, away): from Alam, Tong-Jones, Stephens, Munsey, Barrett, Mendis, Crosby, Beer, Eltham, Simon, Fallah, Clough.

Thame Tn (v Oxford, home): Thomas, MacDonald, Garg, Beard, Mushtaq, Adams, Phippen, Higgs, Rooney, Evans, Lachlan.

Horspath (v Datchet, home): Stead, R Eason, Green, Ali, Todd, Price, W Eason, Faruk, Belcher, Foster, Ward.

Aston Rowant (v Buckingham, home): Matthews, Smith, Watling, Morrick, Muttitt, Bethell, Barras, Harris, Reid, Jewell, Richards.

Shipton (v Gerrards Cross, away): Hole, Wood, Dickinson, C Miller, Lewis, Sanklecha, Cross, Brain, S Miller, Barrett, Hemming.