WOOTTON Bassett coach Graham Stickler admits his side simply must beat Southern Counties South leaders Bournemouth tomorrow if they are to claim a surprise promotion.

The division's top two meet at Stoneover Lane, but anything less than a home win will hand the title and automatic promotion to the south coast outfit and leave Bassett's own aspirations hanging dangerously in the balance going into the final week of league action.

That's because Frome lurk two points adrift in third place, ready to take advantage of any Bassett slip-up and prise away second spot and a promotion play-off against the runners-up in Southern Counties North.

Stickler, though, is looking up rather than down and concentrating on taking down the division's top side, thereby taking the title race into the final week.

Bassett have stunned even their own followers this term, by challenging for honours with a squad packed with youngsters, but Stickler admitted: "Without doubt, this is our biggest game of the season.

"If we have a desire for promotion, we have to win it. We are still in the play-off position at the moment, but if we don't win, we are relying on other teams slipping up to let us back in.''

Bassett went down to a disappointing defeat at Devizes last week, but retained second spot thanks to Frome's 6-5 crash at Tadley.

Stickler added: "I've reviewed the video of the match and, although Devizes never looked like scoring a try against our fantastic defence, we made too many mistakes.

"But we're a young side and you have to learn from those experiences.

"Bournemouth are a very strong team, probably the strongest in the league, but they are at our place and if we play as well as we can, there's no doubt we can win.''

n Swindon will be crowned Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier Division champions with victory at Drifters.

They name a virtually unchanged pack with props Andy Hyde and Danny Webb swapping in the front row.

Backs James Turney, Nathan Waite and Guy Sturla are all out, but skipper Paul Wakefield returns. Development squad players Ben Pailor and Danny Way retain their places.

WEEKEND TEAMS

Swindon v Drifters, away, meet noon. P. McBain, S. Chapman , D. Webb, A. Morley, P. Atkinson, T. Loukes,

P. Daniels, J. Parker, C. Knott, N. Maycock, M. Seynaeve, P. Wakefield, S. Cock, N. Warren, R. Haxton, A. Hyde, D. Way, B. Pailor

Swindon 2nd, away, Calne, meet 12.30pm. G. Webb, A. Holt, N. Brooks, S. Steele, S. Elsby, I. Butcher, J. Williams, J. Goby, N. Puntas Dias, K. Hopkins, J. Riding, S. Packer, D. Dowling, T. Harding, J. Whitmore, A. Weston, D. Harris, C. Pearce.

FIXTURES

Powergen South West 2 East: Marlow v Salisbury, Oakmeadians v Ivel Barbarians, Swanage & Wareham v Amersham & Chiltern, Wimborne v Chippenham, Windsor v Reading Abbey.

Southern Counties South: Devizes v Tadley, Frome v Redingensians, North Dorset v Minety, Sherborne v Dorchester, Trowbridge v Bradford on Avon, Wootton Bassett v Bournemouth.

Gloucestershire 1: Ashley Down Old Boys v Bristol Saracens, Bishopston v Old Cryptians, Chipping Sodbury v Frampton Cotterell, Old Bristolians v Old Colstonians, Widden Old Boys v Cirencester.

Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier: Drifters v Swindon, Gosford All Blacks v Milton Keynes, Littlemore v Harwell, Oxford v Farnham Royal, Thatcham v Chipping Norton, Wallingford v Chesham.

Berks/Bucks & Oxon 1 South: Abingdon v Swindon College, Aldermaston v Newbury Stags, Berkshire Shire Hall v Chinnor 3rds, Grove 2nds v Beaconsfield 2nds, Phoenix 2nds v Wheatley.

Dorset & Wilts 1 North: Calne v Swindon 2nds, Cricklade v Hungerford, Marlborough v Corsham, Pewsey Vale v Cooper Avon Tyres, Supermarine v Westbury.

Dorset & Wilts 2 North: Colerne v Warminster, Devizes 3rds v Trowbridge 3rds, Supermarine 2nds v Minety 2nds, Wellesley Arms v Bradford on Avon 2nds, Wootton Bassett 3rds v Aldbourne Dabchicks.