ROYAL Wootton Bassett head coach Alan Low is hoping the addition of fresh blood to his back-line will help to arrest their recent slump in form.

The Ballards Ash side are without a win in their last five outings in South West One East, having started the season with just one defeat in their opening seven fixtures.

Dominic Carroll, who is currently in the Army U23 set-up, and Oliver Smith, who can play at both centre and on the wing, have been added to the squad to provide cover for the depleted ranks.

However, Low does not see his new additions as merely a temporary fix and hopes they can offer competition when the injury list starts to subside.

“Hopefully those boys have a good week in training and we’re able to get them in there somewhere,” he said.

“Hopefully they can add a fair bit of competition and they’ll be pushing when those other guys are back fit from their injuries to maintain their positions.

“We said all along, going up, the test would be if we pick up injuries.

“It’s been a really good test for the guys coming up and the test now is when the other guys are fit, are they going to keep pushing them for their spots?”

Bassett host Old Patesians this Saturday and will be buoyed from the knowledge that they are the only side to have inflicted defeat on the side lying in second place.

Low’s side were 24-21 victors on the day and he knows that the former National League Three South West side will be out to settle a score.

“We’re the only side to have beaten them this season so they’re going to be coming to our place gunning for us,” he added.

“We’re looking forward to the game. We’ll pick the strongest side we can pick and it’s a really good show of the strength in depth.

“It is going to be a tough weekend, we’re not going to beat around the bush there.

“Old Pats are a really good side and to be the only side to have beaten them so far is great.

“We have got to back up that performance at our place.”