Title-chasing Finchampstead will be without opening batsman Greg Smith for up to six weeks after he fractured a finger.
Smith, who joined the club from Hurst last summer, has found his best form in recent weeks but suffered the injury in the draw against Slough on June 24 when he dropped a catch in the field.
He continued to play and took to the crease in the second innings, scoring 71 not out, but the knock has since taken its toll.
“It is a real big shame because of how well he’s been doing,” captain Dan Marles told The Wokingham Paper.
“This has been his kind of breakthrough year after playing with the 2s last year and he really started to make a name for himself at the top of the order.
“He dropped a catch unfortunately, probably should’ve caught it!
“But he dropped it and batted with that bad finger last week which probably didn’t do him the best of good.
“He’s gone to the hospital and they said he’s got a little fracture to his finger so he’s in a splint and he’s out for four to six weeks.”
Adam Dewes was bumped up to the top of the order for Saturday’s victory over High Wycombe with Ed Oliver taking Smith’s place in the side.
And Marles has backed Oliver to continue in the role against Oxford on Saturday.
“Ed fits what we’re trying to do as a side,” said the skipper.
“He’s a relatively young lad, he’s a really good fielder and he’s a very handy batsman to have around. He fits the bill
“Hopefully he can have a run of games and get a few scores.”
He added: “It’s not a massive change (moving Adam Dewes up to open).
“He’s got a first team hundred batting at number one.
“We’re quite a flexible side anyway really. I think a lot of lads can do a job.
“I could even go up there and open, slotting up one spot wouldn’t really change much for me.
“We’ve got a lot of players that can do it.”
There is one to change to the side which beat High Wycombe with Josh Lincoln stepping up from the 2s in place of the absent Billy Rogers.
FINCHAMPSTEAD XI v Oxford: Marles (c), D. Lincoln (wk), Carter, Coetzee, J. Dewes, A. Dewes, House, Hodges, Oliver, Parson, Lincoln.
