HEAD coach Tug Wilson is calling on his Witney players to relish the underdog tag when they bid to win the Oxfordshire Cup for the first time.

The South West 1 East side head to Iffley Road tomorrow night to take on league rivals Banbury.

Witney know what it is like to lose a final, having tasted defeat in 2006, 2007 and 2010.

Wilson is fully aware his side will have their work cut out against a Banbury outfit who are pushing for promotion and bidding to win the county cup for a third successive year.

But he is hoping Witney can use that to their advantage with at least three coachloads of supporters making the trip to the home of Oxford University.

Wilson said: “They’re really looking forward to it around the town and the club.

“There is quite a few people coming to watch.

“Everybody is really excited and a cup final is always great.

“It’s a big occasion and cup competitions are something as a player I grew up on and it’s still something we see as a very important competition.

“We just want to give a good account of ourselves.

“It’s a lovely environment to play in, a nice wide pitch.

“But we don’t want them to let the occasion overawe them or anything like that.

“We will go as definite underdogs, but that is something they can enjoy. There’s not a great deal of pressure on us.”

  • FLASHBACK: Witney’s team which were beaten in 2010 – the last time the club reached the Oxfordshire Cup final Picture: Steve Wheeler

Banbury are well versed in playing at Iffley Road and tomorrow night will be there 17th appearance in the final since the competition started in 1971, compared to Witney’s fourth.

Wilson is expecting an advertisement for attacking rugby, with both sides set to benefit from the university’s wider pitch.

He said: “We can play quite a good carrying game and make use of the wide open spaces to separate the field a bit.

“But Banbury have the same style of play, so it will be an open game and that width of pitch might test a few players’ fitness at this time in the season.”