CHRIS Watling says Aston Rowant must not be distracted by how their rivals are faring when a three-way battle for the Division 1 title concludes tomorrow.

The Oxfordshire side must beat Horspath to stand a chance of winning the top tier of the Home Counties Premier League for the first time.

However, Rowant, who welcome back George Reid, also need leaders Henley and second-placed Slough to lose against Tring Park and High Wycombe respectively.

Batsman Watling is hopeful results will go their way, but knows they must focus on keeping to their side of the bargain.

He said: “I think we’ll just be doing our best to do what we can control.

“Obviously, there will be half an eye on what’s going on, but we’ve got to try to put that to the back of our minds.

“Hopefully Tring and Wycombe can do us a favour, that would be brilliant, but we’ll have to wait and see.”

Horspath will be keen to have their say in proceedings and captain Will Eason is hoping his side, now safe from relegation, can finish on a high.

He said: “We’ll concentrate on what we’re doing.

“We’re really pleased we managed to stay up and we can enjoy the game.”

Horspath make three changes, with Tom Coleman, Lloyd Belcher and Jehan Mohammed returning.

Oxford are hoping for revenge against fellow relegated side Thame Town when they meet at Jordan Hill.

They played out a draw at Church Meadow earlier in the season.

And Oxford skipper Jamie Perkin, who recalls Rob Keat, is eager to make up for that result.

He said: “Thame did a job on us earlier this year, blocking out for a draw, which probably cost us in the end, so I’m desperate to get one over them.

“Three wins in a row would give us momentum for next year and it shows that the lads have continued to work hard and it has been a positive end to the season from everybody.”

Lloyd Sabin is calling on Banbury to “put things right” when they travel to Finchampstead.

The side have lost back-to-back games and are eager to arrest the run.

Captain Sabin said: “Since we’ve not been able to win the league and we’ve not had a great deal to play for, it has fizzled out.

“We’re looking to put things right and finish with a win.”

Richard West and George Tait return.

Anupam Sanklecha is bidding to say a victorious goodbye to Shipton-under-Wychwood tomorrow.

The overseas star, who has captained the side this season, will leave the west Oxfordshire club following their relegation from Division 2.

Sanklecha, who has spent five seasons at Shipton, says he has had interest from other clubs to play in the Home Counties Premier League next year.

But the Indian all-rounder’s focus is on leading the side to victory over rivals Great & Little Tew.

Sanklecha said: “I’m definitely not coming back to Shipton because they are going down.

“There are a few options (for next year) with teams already asking me, but I’ve not decided.

“I would like to come back and play Home Counties and I will sort it out at Christmas.

“It would be nice to win this game.

“I’ve had loads of good times at Shipton, I really like it here and I like playing for them.”

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Aston Rowant (v Horspath, home): Tolson, Condon, Bethell, Smith, Watling, Morrick, Pendered, Moriarty, Muttitt, Whatman, Reid.

Horspath (Aston Rowant, away): R Eason, Brown, Cosford, Hawtin, Green, W Eason, Rafiq, Manley, Coleman, Belcher, Mohammed.

Oxford (v Thame Tn, home): Tong-Jones, Dickinson, Perkin, Ayub, Nutt, Mendis, Simon, Kilpatrick, Musk, Humphreys, Keat.

Banbury (v Finchampstead, away): Haupt, Bartlett, Sabin, Clarke, Hill, Rana, Wright, Beer, Curtis, West, Tait.

Shipton-under-Wychwood (v Great & Little Tew, away): Sanklecha, C Miller, Cross, Brain, Wood, S Miller, Lewis, Harris, Rehman, Norgrove, Marstin.