JIM Dixon was hoping to strengthen his Basingstoke side for tomorrow's trip to London Nigerians by including former Brighton Hill schoolboy Carl Saunders and second row Matt France.

Both are serving with the armed forces and Dixon delayed his team selection to check on their availability.

If they are able to make the trip to the Linford Christie Stadium, France will play in the second row and Saunders on the wing, to make his seasonal debut.

The match will pair the two bottom sides in London one and head coach Dixon believes the long overdue first league win for his side could come tomorrow.

First, they will have to eliminate all the errors that have crept into their play so far and adapt their game plan to match the weather conditions.

Last week, they suffered another humbling defeat when Down Grange visitors Old Albanians used the wind well to establish first-half superiority that killed off Basingstoke hopes.

Dixon believes two disallowed scoring efforts in this half conributed to his side's downfall.

But he said: "We have got to accept the result and move on."

Some hard talking followed the first team squad's viewing of the match video at Tuesday night's training session, he said.

The wind that had helped Albanians to victory died down after the turnaround so the expected advantage for Basingstoke didn't materialise.

"It was another learning lesson for us. We've had many this season but we haven't made the same mistakes again."

Despite all the setbacks, Dixon says his side have not lost faith in their own ability.

"The boys know they're capable of playing good rugby and a first win is just around the corner.

"Hopefully it will come this weekend."

The only previous meetings with London Nigerians were in Basingstoke's last promotion season of 2001-02. Each team won their home matches, Basingstoke losing 30-22 away before gaining revenge with a 21-8 win at Down Grange.