JOHN Barrett describes being involved in a tight Division 2 title race as a ‘nerve-racking’ experience.

Third-placed Oxford kept themselves in the hunt with a 44-run victory at Datchet in the Home Counties Premier League last weekend.

Barrett’s side are six points adrift of leaders Horspath and he knows a slip-up against Shipton-under-Wychwood tomorrow could prove costly.

“I suppose for the neutral it (the title race) is exciting, for us it is all a bit nerve-racking,” he said.

“But it is nice to be playing in games that matter at this time of the season.”

Barrett names an unchanged team and is hoping bowler Freddie Simon can build on last week’s batting display after the bowler hit 48 not out to help steer Oxford from 174-8 to 241 all out.

“Freddie is a real pleasure of a guy to have that low down,” he said.

“He plays his own game, hits the ball as hard as he can.

“He changes games for us and also bowls really well.”

Although not mathematically safe, Shipton skipper Charlie Brain believes his side have done enough to stay up.

With 60 points still on offer, they are 35 clear of the bottom two after last week’s win over Cookham Dean.

“We’re pretty comfortable,” he said.

“We still want to get 200 points.

“We are not mathematically safe, but I think everyone would say we are safe and we can relax a bit and play more freely.”

Craig Wood returns, replacing Tom Swann, who drops to the 2nd team.

Skipper Will Eason could play with a broken bone in his right hand as leaders Horspath host Buckingham Town.

The seamer suffered the injury while batting during last week’s win over Aston Rowant and will wait until tonight before deciding whether to play.

Horspath lead second-placed Amersham by two points and Eason is aware they cannot lose focus.

“It is so tight, but if we keep winning the rest is irrelevant,” he said.

“We can’t think we are nearly there because on one Saturday everything can change.”

Wicket-keeper Jasper Davies is unavailable, so Jimmy Phillips comes in, while oversees star Rameez Raja plays his last game before joining up with Karachi for Pakistan’s national T20 competition.

Relegation-threatened Thame Town host Amersham.

Despite sitting only a point above second-bottom Gerrards Cross, captain Mike Higgs is upbeat after their closest rivals were unable to take advantage of defeats in the last two weeks.

“We could have been out of it if they had won some games,” he said.

“It gives us confidence if we can pull a performance out we can stay up.”

Higgs and Will Rooney return, replacing Dan Patey and Chris Jeffcock.

Aston Rowant visit bottom side Cookham Dean, knowing victory will secure their safety.

Dan Matthews and Gordon Harris come in for Tom Condon and Dominic Whatman.

Captain Josh Smith said: “Last week we were just short with the bat, but it’s been pretty good recently.”

TOMORROW’S TEAMS

Oxford (v Shipton, home): Alam, Clough, Stephens, Munsey, Barrett, Mendis, Crosby, Beer, Eltham, Simon, Fallah.

Shipton (v Oxford, away): Hole, C Miller, Dickinson, Perkin, Barrett, Lewis, Sanklecha, Brain, Cross, S Miller, Wood.

Horspath (v Buckingham Tn, home): Stead, R Eason, Ward, Raja, Ali, W Eason, Skelton, Faruk, Price, Belcher, Phillips.

Thame Tn (v Amersham, home): Thomas, Sutcliffe, MacDonald, Garg, Mushtaq, Beard, Phippen, Adam, Lachlan, Higgs, Rooney.

Aston Rowant (v Cookham Dean, away): Tolson, Matthews, Jewell, Smith, Richards, Watling, Morrick, Muttitt, Bethell, Barras, Harris.