HENLEY Hawks head coach Pete Davies insists confidence is still high despite a frustrating opening three months to the season.

The Oxfordshire club sit second bottom in National League 2 South following nine defeats from 13 games, but are only a point behind Barnstaple, who are three places higher.

London Irish Wild Geese are tomorrow’s visitors to Dry Leas and Davies remains upbeat Henley’s fortunes will turn around after an inconsistent start to what had been billed as a title-chasing campaign.

He said: “We don’t fear anyone and we are hoping to get a bonus-point win.

“Confidence is high, our defence is better, and we have dominated teams higher in the table.

“We are confident we will kick on in the second half of the season and will be fine.”

Xavier Andre is injured and Liam O’Neill is recovering after suffering concussion last week.

Joe Butler and Alan Awcock miss out due to work commitments, while props Dave Manning and Brad Cook are unavailable.

Marcus Lowe keeps his place at No 8 after an impressive debut, while David Hyde returns at lock.

Leaders Chinnor host Worthing, hoping to return to winning ways after suffering only their second loss of the season.

In South West 1 East, Oxford Harlequins bid to bounce back from a heavy defeat when they host Newbury Blues.

Lock Pete Alston and No 8 Angus Milton return, while Jack Stileman and Aidan Tynan come in on the wings.

Banbury bid for a fourth-straight win when they visit Swindon, Grove travel to Reading Abbey and Witney take on Windsor.

Wheatley welcome the return of half-back pairing Aaron Laman and Andy Willis for their Oxfordshire Shield first round tie at home to Chipping Norton.

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Henley (v London Irish Wild Geese, home): Comben, Stevenson-Wright, Gardner, Hankinson, Hayhow, Parton, Jackson, Hadfield, Philpott, Abdale-Weir, Albon, Hyde, Hall, Morrison, Lowe. Reps: Clements, Chamnaoui, Emery, Haynes, Perry.

Banbury (v Swindon, away): Joe Mills, Deegan, Goode, Briggs, Boyle, Stoop, E Phillips, Fox, Ding, Isham, Pratt, Brock, Jacob Mills, Sam Mills, C Phillips. Reps: Car-Archer, Chilvers, Stevenson.

Oxford Harlequins (v Newbury Blues, home): Crowe, Tynan, Robinson, Fisilau, Stileman, Jenner, O’Brian, Edney, Tierney, Boulton, Purchase, Alston, Taylor, Ward, Milton. Reps: from Davies, Dimond, Todd, Latu, Exley.

Wheatley (v Chipping Norton, home): from Aklam (c) Mitchell, Gabbidon, Gibb, Banton, C Taylor, Bland, Atkinson, Laman, Willis, Hilsdon, Hobdale, Muir, Rule, Chadbone, J Taylor, Smith, Hook, Durbin, Evans.