HIGHWORTH entertain fellow Hellenic Premier Division title hopefuls Southall tomorrow and defeat will almost certainly kill off any chance of the trophy ending up at the Elms.

Seven days ago, manager John Fisher said that the next two games at Shortwood last Saturday and Tuffley on Wednesday were both 'must win'.

The team collected just one point from the two fixtures to leave them 13 points off the pace.

Fortunately, leaders Didcot were beaten 2-1 by Hungerford on Tuesday to give Highworth a glimmer of hope.

"I haven't given up completely, said Fisher, "but quite truthfully I think we've given ourselves too much to do now.

"Five or six of our players just haven't been producing the goods over the past few weeks.

"Didcot have been shooting themselves in the foot but we're relying on all the other sides at the top to drop points too.

"We've got 14 games left now and the pressure is off us.

"If we can put together a run like we did at the start of the season you never know strange things happen in football."

Fisher welcomes back Adam Giles after three weeks out with a dislocated toe. Elliot Jackson, Richard Knox, Ian McSherry and Matty Saye also return after missing the 2-2 draw at Tuffley.

Big-spending Southall can join Didcot at the top of the table with a win. The Middlesex outfit are currently three points behind the leaders but have two games in hand.

A cup quarter-final is usually a tense affair but for Purton boss Alan Clark it represents a welcome break from league action.

Clark's troops have had to grind out results every week since the turn of the year to keep their leadership of Division One West.

So the Cherry Red Records Challenge Cup last-eight trip to Prestwood gives Purton a chance to 'relax'.

Clark said: "It's nice to get away from the pressure of the league.

"It will be good to play in a more relaxed situation and we can enjoy ourselves win, lose or draw."

Clark has a complete squad to choose from following the recovery of Phil Fisher and Alan Webb from long-term injury.

A reduced programme in Division One West means no game for Shrivenham or Malmesbury Vics, while Cirencester United welcome Quarry Nomads to the Corinium Stadium.

CHERRY RED RECORDS Hellenic league

FIXTURES

Cherry Red Records Challenge Cup Quarter-Final: Prestwood v Purton.

Cherry Red Records Challenge Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg: Hungerford Tn v Didcot Tn.

Premier Division: Almondsbury Tn v Chipping Norton Tn; Bishops Cleeve v Shortwood Utd; Fairford Tn v Carterton Tn; Highworth Tn v Southall Tn; Pegasus Jnrs v Brackley Tn; Pewsey Vale v Wootton Bassett Tn; Slimbride v Abingdon Utd; Tuffley Rvrs v Henley Tn.

Division One West: Ardley Utd v Headington Amats; Cirencester Utd v Quarry Nomads; Harrow Hill v Cheltenham Saras; Kidlington v Ross Tn; Old Woodstock Tn v Witney Utd; Shrivenham v Middle Barton; Winterbourne Utd v Clanfield.

Division One East: Binfield v Eton Wick; Bisley Spts v Wantage Tn; Chalfont Wasps v Hounslow Boro; Englefield Green Rvrs v Holyport; Finchampstead v Rayners Lane; Letcombe v Badshot Lea; Penn & Tylers Green v Martin Baker Spts.

Reserve Division One: Carterton Tn v Banbury Utd; Cheltenham Saras v Finchampstead; Henley Tn v Fairford Tn; Milton Utd v Brackley Tn; North Leigh v Didcot Tn; Wootton Bassett Tn v Highworth Tn.

Reserve Division Two West: Chipping Norton Tn v Old Woodstock Tn; Easington Spts v Headington Amats; Hook Norton v Bicester Tn; Middle Barton v Ardley Utd; Wantage Tn v Letcombe; Witney Utd v Almondsbury Tn.

Reserve Division Two East: Badshot Lea v Binfield; Chinnor v Penn & Tylers Green; Martin Baker Spts v Bisley Spts; Rayners Lane v Prestwood.

Berks & Bucks Intermediate Cup Semi-Final: Buckingham Ath v Penn & Tylers Green.