SWANS skipper Robert Elford insists they are licking their lips at the prospect of meeting rejuvenated Oakmeadians in the Dorset & Wilts Cup semi-final.

Elford also answered Oaks boss James Croker’s cry they will beat the Bestwall boys to fix up a final against Bournemouth by saying: “We’ll make it 15 consecutive final appearances.”

Oaks crushed Salisbury 74-23 in the quarter-final under Chapel Gate’s floodlights to book a last-four date at Meyrick Park.

But the mouth-watering clash could go ahead on neutral territory at Bournemouth in midweek because Saturday league fixtures take precedence, and neither side will probably want to play on a Sunday.

Croker, whose side’s victory over Salisbury was only their third in 12 matches, told the Echo: “Salisbury put out their best side, so this was a massive confidence booster for us.

“We’re confident we can beat Swans in the semi-final.”

Elford replied: “Of course he has to say that. They have to be confident, but it’s the Dorset & Wilts Cup. We don’t need to say any more than that from a Swanage & Wareham perspective.

“We’ve made the past 14 finals on the trot. We intend to make it one more. It’s as simple as that.

“Whether we’re away to Oaks or under Bournemouth’s lights, we’re confident we’re good enough to beat them.”

ELford, whose side lost 30-13 at home to Oaks in the league in September, added: “We went to Oaks in December and beat them 47-12.

“I know they were under strength for whatever reason, but if we had nailed all our kicks, we would have got over 60 points, a similar scoreline to what they beat Salisbury by.

“We know it’ll be a tough semi and we also know they’ve had a tough time of it since their good start to the season. But we’ll be up for it and are really determined to come out on top.”

Swans host Trowbridge in South West One East tomorrow (2.30pm) aiming to avenge a 24-17 away defeat.

Elford said: “We didn’t show up at Bletchley. Our 17-8 defeat was our worst performance since October.

“We’ve managed to haul ourselves away from the mid-table pack but two successive defeats is disappointing.

“Tomorrow’s game is a must win.”

Swans: Sheldrake, Elford, Andrews, Burgess, Penney, Van Tuyl, Tomes, Wright, Sammons, Parish, Blackmore, Graves, Cottrell, Wilcox, Dunsford. Subs: Frampton, Marshallsay, Jones.

n Oaks host Cheltenham aiming to gain revenge for a 24-13 away reverse at the league leaders.

Mike Richards, Rob Bongard and Bo Henrickson may have unavailability problems.

Oaks: (from) Cameron, Bongard, Stephenson, Garrett, Henrickson, W Croker, Hudson, Atkins, Ford, Hicks, Kier, Richards, Coughlan, Bell, Porter, Tryska, Drummond, Burenivalu, Notobartolo, Hare, Ciriki, Mitchell, Cook, Morgan.