ROYAL Wootton Bassett coach Alan Low already has one eye on next season and will use today’s South West One (East) trip to Newbury Blues as a springboard for developing future styles of play.

Out-of-form Bassett have been hit by an extensive injury list since the turn of the year, which has ultimately dropped them to fifth in the table and resulted in four successive defeats.

In contrast, Newbury have lost only one game all season and have already confirmed promotion to the South West Premier Division after dropping seven points all season.

Several youngsters from Bassett’s second team have been granted starting opportunities due to Low’s injury problems.

And the coach is now hoping to field players in unorthodox positions with a view to building a team that is capable of promotion in the coming years.

He said: “We’ve got half an eye on pre-season and building into next year.

“We want to do the right thing to lay the building blocks down for the summer and next season.

“With the injuries, there is only so much we can change at the moment.

“But we will give opportunities to some guys. We’ll allow game time for others in certain positions that they might not always play too.”

Newbury’s already confirmed promotion can possibly lay blame to the club’s leaky defensive record since the start of the month.

Oxford Harlequins, Old Centralians, Witney, Marlborough and Chippenham have all posted points totals in double figures.

Low therefore senses an opportunity to establish some confidence in the mindset of his younger players.

He added: “Newbury’s results perhaps haven’t been what they would’ve wanted – we were the first team this year to take a bonus point off of them and run them close.

“I’m sure they will be gunning for it this weekend.

“We want to go and grant opportunities to some of the younger guys. But we want to do that in the right way and remain competitive at all times.

“It will be a good test.”