WINDSOR may only be four points clear of the South West One (East) relegation frame, but Royal Wootton Bassett chief Alan Low has warned his promotion chasing players of the Berkshire club’s improving squad this term.

Windsor have won five of their 15 fixtures this season, though three of those victories have occurred in their last four games.

Fourth placed Oxford Harlequins – who lost by a point at Ballards Ash last weekend – were also pushed close by Windsor on December 21, Quins eventually won that game 34-29.

With several key players possibly missing this weekend’s game because of injury, Low doesn’t anticipate Bassett to run away with this important fixture.

He said: “We played Windsor at the start of the season, it was a funny game.

“We picked up a red card early on and that impacted the game massively. We ended up running away with it in the second half, though – fitness told.

“Windsor’s results have picked up. It can take a while to find your feet and work out how other teams play in this league.

“Windsor have started to do just that. Now that they’ve picked up a few results, they’re starting to pull away from that relegation frame.

“They’re a team to be wary of because they know they’re still in that fight, so they’ll have every intention of getting points out of the game.”

Players that are touch and go to feature include Connor Tomley, Scott Douglas and Phil Bardwell.

Bardwell has aggravated an old injury that ruled him for the majority of last season while Tomley and Douglas were evaluated during the squad’s mid-week training session having missed last weekend’s visit of Oxford.

“We’re hoping to have Connor Tomley and Scott Douglas back this weekend, but we still have other key players missing,” said Low.

“Phil Bardwell we’ll have to make a call on closer to kick-off. He missed most of last season and has aggravated the same injury.

“We’re waiting to find out if he needs surgery. It is how it is, but touch wood we’ve got a squad capable of stepping up to the task.”

Elsewhere, Swindon are in Southern Counties action at home.

Nick Brookes’ side host Swanage & Wareham while Swindon College Old Boys also play at home when basement side North Dorset visit.