WITNEY will be forced to continue their relegation battle without Ben Fisk after ruling the injured winger out for the rest of the season.

The Hailey Road-based club host basement boys Swindon in South West 1 East tomorrow, bidding to further cut the gap to safety.

Two bonus points at high-flying Marlborough last week saw them reduce the deficit to eight with seven games to go, but it came at a price with Fisk dislocating his knee cap within the first five minutes.

The winger had given chase to a Ted Landray kick and was involved in a serious collision with an opposition player, who suffered broken ribs.

Fisk went to the John Radcliffe Hospital and must return to find out the full extent of the damage.

Witney head coach Adam Copperwheat, who hands Jack Birks a start on the right wing, sees no sense in rushing him back to action.

He said: “Ben’s knee cap was persuaded back in to place while he was still on the pitch.

“There was an instant relief of it going back where it should be.

“It looked pretty grim to begin with.

“He will be done for the season – whether it’s ligaments or tendons, something would’ve stretched.

“He needs the correct rehabilitation – there’s no point in rushing him back.”

Banbury face a crunch clash at home to Royal Wootton Bassett in their bid to remain in the promotion race.

Victory over Oxford Harlequins kept Bulls within six points of second-placed Old Centralians, who occupy the sole play-off spot.

And another bonus-point win will be vital this weekend against rivals Bassett, who sit third.

Bulls are determined to avenge their 22-17 defeat to the Wiltshire side in October.

Head coach Matt Goode said: “We owe them. We should’ve won at their place and I think we’ll be looking to turn the page and beat them.”

Despite being ruled out for up to a month with an arm injury, Tommy Gray starts at fullback.

Ken Key replaces Pete Boulton (hamstring) in the front row, while fly-half Sam Stoop and centre Jack Briggs return.

Quins name an unchanged squad as they look to return to winning ways at Beaconsfield.

Matt Williams has called on Bertie Hopkin to make the most of his first start since September when Chinnor host Darlington Mowden Park in National League 1.

The fly-half replaces the injured Craig Holland as they bid to end a three-game winless run.

Director of rugby Williams said: “Bertie’s been out of favour, but at this particular time it feels right to give him an opportunity.

“He has a chance to put the season behind him and finish it in style.”

Chinnor’s squad is bolstered with three dual-registered players from the Gallagher Premiership.

Northampton Saints flanker Joe Wallace starts, with Exeter Chiefs duo Danny Southworth and Max Norey among the replacements.

Scrum-half Greg Goodfellow has also been recalled from his loan at Henley Hawks, who are eyeing a fourth-straight win in National League 2 South.

George Primett, Liam Goodison and Jack Robinson start in place of Brad Cook, the unavailable Sam Lunnon and George Wood in their home fixture against Redruth.

Ben Venner is also included in a first-team matchday squad for the first time.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Chinnor (v Darlington Mowden Park, home): Goss, Hodson, A Dancer, Barnes, Joseph, Hopkin, Hoadley, Cano, Oliver, Gilding, Thomas, Gray, J Dancer, Wallace, Manning. Reps: Southworth, Norey, Betts, Bell, Goodfellow.

Henley Hawks (v Redruth, home): L O’Neill, Robinson, Andre, Barnes, Griffiths, Bolster, Webb, Primett, Emery, Manning, Hyde, Albon, Goodison, Hall, Bradley. Reps: Cook, Clarke, White, Janes, Venner.

Banbury (v Royal Wootton Bassett, home): Gray, Joe Mills, Leese, Briggs, Brady, Stoop, Parker, Winpenny, Isham, Key, Carr-Archer, Pratt, Saar, Powell, Berridge. Reps: Eyston, Horne, Phillips.

Oxford Harlequins (v Beaconsfield, away): Yeates, Henderson, Nutt, Stacey, Turetta, Garrett, Jones, Cashman, Tolley, Ball, Purchase, Myatt, White, Todd, Alston. Reps: Farahani, Head, Fairburn.

Witney (v Swindon, home): Gaffney, Birks, Strutt, Godfrey, Foggett, Landray, Lambourne, Dore, Harris, Wakeman, M Webb, Mortimer, Clothier, Campbell, Caffekey. Reps: Burke, D Webb, Collins.

Grove (v Corsham, home): McCarthy, Tokelove, Hull, Coombs, G Nicholl, Wiltshire, O Nicholl, Hales, Dixey, Hook, Gratwohl, Miles, Ponting, Lambourn, B Nicholl. Reps: Bellinger, Monks, Marshall.

OTHER FIXTURES

Southern Counties North: Littlemore v Buckingham, Marlow v Bicester, Reading Abbey v Wallingford.

Southern Counties South: Grove v Corsham.

BB&O Premier: Gosford All Blacks v Didcot, Oxford v Wheatley.

BB&O Championship: Chipping Norton v Harwell.