BASINGSTOKE and North Hants have an injury crisis ahead of a busy weekend as they travel to High Wycombe tomorrow before facing visitors Hungerford on Sunday.

The hopes of Basingstoke finally kick-starting their league campaign have been given a major blow with the news that Andy Giles and Russell Droy will join Ray Pavesi on the sidelines.

Pavesi, the club's top all-rounder, will be out for a month due to an operation on a knee injury.

If that is not bad enough, Giles has broken a finger and Droy damaged a finger during Saturday's league defeat by Beaconsfield - so both miss the weekend.

Skipper Lee Nurse said: "At the moment we have a real injury crisis not only in the first team but in the twos as well."

He added: "High Wycombe will have a strong team, but we have to stand up and give a good account of ourselves."

On Sunday, Basingstoke play host to Southern Premier division two outfit Hungerford in the National Cup.

The Berkshire side will not be able to play Hampshire's Jason Laney as the rules of the competition demand all players have to have been out of first-class cricket for two years.

Last season Basingstoke knocked out Hungerford at the same stage of the competition when they won by five wickets.

Nurse said: "We will have the same problem on Sunday due to the injury crisis but I feel we are one of the best club sides in this area so there is no reason why we can't repeat last season's success."