SWINDON’S Mike Thompson is hoping his side can register another win this weekend as they prepare to host Witney.

Thompson’s team-mates go into the game off the back of a good victory over local rivals Royal Wootton Bassett earlier this month.

But the back row is expecting an entertaining encounter between the two sides, who are only separated by three points in the South West One East league standings.

“They are always a strong team, to be fair. We’ve been playing them now for quite a while because they have always been in the league when we have,” said Thompson.

“They’re usually powerful up front and aren’t bad with the ball either, so it should be a good contest, but it is at our place, so it should be an interesting game.

“We’ve gone back to basics in training this week. We’ve done a lot of slow ball work and a bit on defence too just to get ready for a big game.”

After a tricky start to the campaign, Thompson believes Swindon have made progress in recent weeks and are now planning to kick on ahead of the Christmas break.

“We’ve been building all year and it just seems to be coming together week on week. We aren’t fully there yet but it’s getting better,” added Thompson.

“I think the turning point was Oxford Harlequins away and from there, we have been building ever since.

“Hopefully, we can get another win under our belts and take it forward another week. Heading into Christmas on a high is our aim.

“Momentum is important especially when you’re going into a break when you have a couple of weeks off.

“When you go into a longer break, it is important you go in on a high so when you come back, you’re feeling confident.

“If you leave on a low and come back after two weeks, it can have an impact on you when you come back from Christmas.”

If they are to claim back-to-back wins, they will have to do it without trio Adam Westall, Ash Taylor and Max Robinson.

“They’ll be a bog loss, but all of the players are more than capable. We have a lot of strength in depth and even the seconds can step up,” added Thompson.