Witney Town's first league meeting with local rivals Banbury United for 19 years is in danger of being overshadowed by events off the Marriotts Stadium pitch.

With Witney up for sale for a reported £350,000 and less than four weeks from possibly being wound up if a buyer doesn't come in, much of the anticipation has been taken away from the long-awaited Eastern Division encounter.

Witney manager Brian Hughes, who has vowed to stay until the end of the season, was putting a brave face on the situation.

He admitted: "We are not in the best of nick at the moment. We will approach it in the same way and see how we get on.

"At the moment we are in freefall - I will probably ring Kevin Brock (Banbury's manager) and see if he can loan me a couple of players!"

The two clubs were due to meet at Banbury on Boxing Day, but that game fell victim to the weather and was postponed again in February.

It now takes place on Wednesday when Witney's newly-formed supporter's group 1885 are set to hold a mock funeral - they couldn't do it tomorrow because the coffin won't be finished until Tuesday!

Brock is expecting a tough clash despite Witney's problems. "I think it is going to be a very tight game," he said.

Striker Keith Knight and wing back Geoff Neville are set to return to Witney's squad after being unavailable for last night's trip to Langney Sports due to work commitments.

Banbury midfielder Steve Thompson is due to have the five stitches applied to a cut above his eye removed tomorrow morning

HOW THEY LINE-UP

Witney Tn (v Banbury Utd, home, Sat; v Rothwell Tn, away, Mon): King, Dunton, Radcliffe, Cook, Tavinor, Caffel, Swann, Murphy, Hendra, Maskell, Keveren, Burnley, Sultane, Neville, Knight, Hughes.

Banbury Utd (v Witney Tn, away, Sat; v Baldock Tn, home, Mon): from Tricker, Wallbridge, Redknap, Sullivan, Muckelberg, Fuller, Corbett, Phillips, Harrison, Gooderick, McKay, Essex, Jenkins, McCrae, Thompson, Sherlock.