ED Phillips is hoping to have the bragging rights over his county teammates when Banbury face Oxford Harlequins at Bodicote Park tonight (7.45).

The sides meet in the last four of the Oxfordshire Cup, with a place in the final against Henley Bulls at Iffley Road on Wednesday, March 23, up for grabs.

Banbury and Quins have not faced each other since the latter’s victory in the final two years ago.

Captain Phillips is set to line up against several of his Oxfordshire teammates, including Quins skipper Allan Purchase.

And after swapping messages with opposing players all week, he can’t wait for tonight’s tie.

“There is an Oxfordshire Whats-App group and there has been a bit of banter flying around,” he said.

“Guys from Witney and Grove have been trying to stir it up as well so it’s been good.

“Hopefully it will be me gloating with a beer in hand afterwards.

“It should be a really good advert for Oxfordshire rugby.”

Banbury are flying high at the top of Midlands 2 West (South) and scrum half Phillips believes the forward battle will be crucial against their South West 1 East opponents.

“If we can hold our own up front we will be in the game,” he said.

“That is where the key lies.”

Head coach James Kerr added: “They certainly play a lot of ball and suck a lot of defenders in so it is about how we make sure we react appropriately to that.”

Quins are on course for a third-straight final after last year's 24-22 defeat to Grove.

And captain Purchase is using that loss as a driving force to book a spot in the showpiece at Iffley Road once again.

He said: "Last year was a bit disappointing but three in a row would be a good achievement for us. 

"It (the loss to Grove) does drive us forward and personally it was a bitter pill to swallow.

"We were looking to retain the cup, it was tough, but we are in a good position this year."

Head of rugby, Alan Hancock, added: "Banbury have got a quality back-line, obviously we won't underestimate them.

"But we have got a strong back-line which we are more than happy with and we have the depth as well. We're looking forward to it."

Quins make five changes from their defeat to Newbury Blues, with Charlie Ward stepping up to flanker and Angus Milton starting at No 8.

Noel O’Brian, Keni Fisilau and Ed Yeats return.

Hancock was also keen to pay tribute to flanker Richard Battson, who will play his last game before returning to New Zealand.

He said: "Hopefully Richard is going to leave us with a ticket towards Iffley Road in the cup final.

"I think he wants to go out with a bang as well."

TONIGHT’S SQUADS

Banbury: Joe Mills, Walsh, Manley, Goode, Deegan, Stoop, Phillips (capt), Paniagua, Isham, Key, Brock, Burge, Jacob Mills, Bannister, Brand. Reps: Nutt, Page, Grieve.

Oxford Harlequins: Yeats, Robinson, Fisilau, Dimond, Poulet, Watkinson, O’Brian, Sharpe, Edney, Boulton, Purchase (capt), Neal, Ward, Battson, Milton. Reps: Farahani, Alston, Kelly, Jenner, Crowe.