SWINDON kick off their Southern Counties South campaign with a home encounter against old rivals Bicester at their Greenbridge Road ground tomorrow.
The Oxfordshire side are newcomers to the division, having been promoted from Bucks & Oxon Division 1 last season.
And Swindon will be expecting a close encounter, given the sides' tussles over previous seasons.
Bicester certainly holds unpleasant memories for new Swindon skipper Stuart Cock.
The player suffered a serious neck injury at their ground a couple of seasons ago and spent a lengthy spell recovering in the John Radcliffe Hospital.
He switches to the wing for tomorrow's clash, with Paul Wakefield and James Turney resuming an old partnership in midfield.
Nick Warren also makes a welcome return to Swindon's ranks and he will partner Andy Morley in the second row.
In the front row, though, Swindon have had to reshuffle due to injuries.
With young hooker Darren New sidelined with a shoulder injury, Scott Chapman, usually a hooker himself, switches to the tighthead, Nick Brooks moves into the loosehead slot, with Andy Holt wearing the No 2 jersey.
Swindon are near full strength for their opening league match and skipper Cock is quietly confident they can get their campaign off to a successful start.
Swindon v Bicester, home, meet 1.15pm: R Haxton, S Cock (capt), J Turney, P Wakefield, N Waite, J Thorley, J Courtney, N Brooks, A Holt, S Chapman, A Morley, N Warren, P Daniels, J Sanders, J Parker. Subs: A Barnes, M Popowicz, M Buckingham.
Swindon 2nd v Bicester 2nd, meet 1.30pm: A Griffiths, M Seynaeve, C Lawrence, M Hartly, S Hutch, R Staynings, J Whatcott, I Reynolds, R Millbank, P Biddy, S Elsby, M Newport, G Reece, J Scott, C Morrison.Subs: S Steel, Tristan.
Swindon 3rd v Bicester 3rd, home: N Baxter, I Davies, J Hanrahan, D Farnsworth, J Bramble, R Emery, G Illing, S Davis, C Pearce, J Walsh, T Logan, S Carr, S Hulse, R Wood, Rus Haxton. Subs: J Whitmore, G Webb, K Hopkins.
DEVIZES face a trip to newcomers Westbury in all-Wiltshire encounter in their opening Southern Counties South encounter.
Devizes v Westbury, away, meet 1.15pm at Devizes Sports Club, No 1s to be worn: A Webb, D O'Sullivan, M Monkton, G Davies, C Jones, S O'Sullivan, T Collins, S Rose, C Billi, M Stowell, G Curnow, J Giddings, T Alchin, J Gaiger, C Maundrell. Subs: S Hadden, S Kingsley, G Jones.
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