TORFAEN Tigers need to avoid a banana skin at Conference League South bottom club Oxford Cavaliers this afternoon to keep their play-off hopes alive.

The Tigers enjoyed a 56-28 success against Leicester Storm in Cwmbran last weekend and sit fifth, a point behind Welsh rivals The Raiders.

This weekend they travel to Oxford to take on a side who have lost eight of 10 games and who they beat 56-22 earlier this season.

However, coach Jamie Williams insists the Tigers are taking nothing for granted despite that 10-try success in May.

He said: "We are back in the mix for a play-off place now and had a good win when we played Oxford at our place but we've learned this year that clubs are a different proposition at home as opposed to away."

The Llanelli-based Raiders have a game in hand on the Tigers in the race for the top four and travel to Leicester, who they host next weekend.

Valley Cougars top the table and go to a Gloucestershire Warriors side who are in their worst form of the season having conceded 186 points in their last two games.

Cougars' director of rugby Paul Emanuelli knows that they'll have a stronger side on their own patch.

"We know the Warriors haven't been in the best of form but we're not concentrating on that," he said.

"We'll be going up there looking to maintain our good record with the aim of remaining three points above Coventry or Nottingham, who are facing each other, so we could be five points ahead of one of them come the end of the day."

Tigers team v Oxford: Matthew Cummins, Liam Silver, Sam Baker, Scott Cole, Sam Hancox, Ash Goode, Chris Wannell, Louie Pengelly, Grant Harrington, Jake Thomas, David Powell, Rhys Finney, Michael Edwards. Interchanges: Mathew Anderson, Craig Price, Jamie Williams, Micki Witts