ROYAL Wootton Bassett team manager George Loughlin insists nothing should be read into the respective positions of the two teams when local rivals Swindon arrive at Ballards Ash for a South West One East tussle tomorrow.

While Bassett registered their eighth league victory of the campaign last weekend, courtesy of an 18-15 triumph at Salisbury, Swindon were slipping to their fifth straight reverse as Oxford Harlequins claimed a 29-12 success at Greenbridge Road.

The eighth-placed home side are fully 23 points ahead of their neighbours in the table, Bassett holding an outside chance of pushing towards the top four, while Swindon’s focus in the final nine matches of the campaign will be on avoiding the drop.

Loughlin though insists any prior form can safely be discarded when the two sides meet for the second time this season - Bassett edging the first encounter 29-27 at Swindon back in October.

“All bets are off for a match like this,” said Loughlin. “We won’t be at our strongest for the match, although we’re not at our weakest either, but form is definitely off the agenda for this sort of game.

“We’ve beaten Oxford Harlequins and should also have beaten Witney in recent weeks so we’re in reasonably good form and we will be hopeful.

“But Swindon will definitely be looking to put one over on us and even though they are below us in the table, they are still a big challenge.”

Elsewhere, Swindon College Old Boys will need to be at their best as they travel to in-form Trowbridge in Southern Counties South tomorrow.

The Nationwide side slipped up to Devizes at home last weekend, while Trowbridge inflicted a first defeat of the season on leaders Sherborne two weeks ago and have lost just one of their last 11 games.

In Dorset & Wilts One North, Supermarine go to Minety.