TOTTONIANS head into a make-or-break pre-Christmas round of fixtures that will go a long way to pointing whether they will be still be in the promotion shake-up come the end of the season.

The surprise package of the season, Totts, who sit second four points behind unbeaten Jersey, receive third-placed Chobham tomorrow before heading to the Channel Islands next weekend and then facing Farnham in fourth, improving Andover and the return Jersey clash before the festive break.

Skipper Paul Goodall is fully aware that much is expected of his young side, starting with the match tomorrow and they will need to return to form after the disappointment of their defeat at Effingham & Leatherhead a fortnight ago.

"It will be a tough game as Chobham are right behind us in the table," said Goodall.

"They have beaten Winchester so we know it will not be easy. However, we are confident we can win and stay in touch with Jersey before we play them next week."

Winchester, who have slipped to fifth following three successive league defeats, need to stop their rot at home to Farnham, otherwise they will surely be out of the running for promotion, even at this early stage of the season.

Coach Barry Bridgman makes a handful of changes from that that performed admirably in defeat on Jersey with the return on Adam Hayes and Campbell Ettinger in the second row, while South African Derek Manning reverts to the back row.

Andrew Ashwin plays in his third position of the season - scrum-half - in place of the unavailable Scott Turner while there is a switch around in the backs with Adam Smith playing on the wing and Ed Ravenhill at outside centre.

Following their double victory over Old Emanuel, hopes are high that Romsey can record a second straight success over fellow strugglers and local rivals Southampton when the pair clash at the town Sports Centre in London Four South-West.

Both have recorded just a single victory from six starts and Southampton's superior points difference is all that separates them in eighth and ninth.

Southampton skipper Marcus Coffin is forced to make switches to his side with Jason Porter coming in for the injured Carl Wilmore and Alan Butler taking over the back row position Porter vacates. Ben Rainbow is back on the wing.