SWINDON’S South West One East campaign may be struggling to take flight, but skipper Mike Thompson is refusing to heap extra pressure on Saturday’s trip to basement boys Oxford Harlequins.

The Greenbridge Road men sit third from bottom after winning only one of their opening five games of the campaign – the season’s curtain-raiser against Grove.

While Swindon head to Oxford after being edged out 15-13 by Old Patesians last weekend, tomorrow’s hosts Quins come into the clash on the back of a chastening 77-0 thrashing at the hands of new boys Royal Wootton Bassett.

“It is a big game, but it is early in the season,” Thompson said. “This league is the strongest that I have seen it and everyone can beat everyone.

“I think apart from the Old Centralians game (Swindon lost 49-14) we have competed.”

In a strange twist of fate Swindon have found that the fixture mirrors that of near neighbours Bassett, only a week later.

Alan Low’s men, who head to Reading – who visit Swindon next Saturday – tomorrow, have enjoyed a fine start to the season, Thompson says that he is happy for the Ballards Ash outfit.

“They are the last team we’d speak to (about getting information on the opposition),” Thompson joked. “But seriously I’m really pleased for them.

“Lowy is a good guy and they have built a strong squad that have been together for a few years, that is massive.

“When we came up to this league we had been together for a few years and that season we went on to finish fourth. When you have that settled side it does really help.

“At the moment we are looking pretty good on the injury front.

“Connal Knott was injured but he is playing again now.

“Dave Cox has had ankle injury but is back training so hopefully he’ll be back into the mix. But Ash Taylor and John Mason have been playing really well so he is going to have to work really hard to get back into the team.”

Bassett, meanwhile, will be looking to make it five wins on the spin when they make the short trip down the M4 to Reading.

Since their opening day defeat to unbeaten leaders Maidenhead, Bassett have accounted for two teams playing in National Three South-West last term - Old Centralians and Old Patesians, as well as Newbury Blues and crushed basement boys Oxford Harlequins 77-0.

Bassett’s hosts, however, have endured mixed fortunes in their opening five fixtures - winning two and losing three, including a 9-8 defeat in their derby clash at Reading Abbey last weekend.