Oxford United face a testing home game against a Kettering side with the best away record in the Blue Square Premier at the Kassam Stadium on Saturday.
The match sees second play fifth in the league, with a win vital for the U’s if they hope to stay in touch with Stevenage in the race for automatic promotion.
United welcome Anthony Tonkin back into the squad after the left back missed out on Tuesday's home defeat to Hayes & Yeading through suspension.
Adam Murray could be on the bench as he continues his recovery from a back problem, while United will delay a decision on the fitness of top scorer James Constable until the last moment. Alfie Potter is getting closer to fitness and could return to full training next week.
A win for the Poppies could see them move up to third if other results go there way, and Lee Harper's side could feature former United players Marcus Kelly and John Dempster in their ranks.
Jean-Paul Marna will be looking to make it three goals in three appearances against the U's after scoring in both the 1-1 draw at Rockingham Road this season, and United’s 2-1 victory during the last campaign.
Oxford United boss Chris Wilder (pictured) is looking to see a better performance from his side after Tuesday’s disappointing 2-1 defeat, and said: "I've been looking forward to getting back to work as I hope we all have because I'm hurting.
“Wednesday was the longest day of my life and I'd imagine that it was for the players as well, and in a way I want it to be. They take pride in their performance and Tuesday night wasn't good enough. I don't play games; I tell it like it is and it wasn't good enough. We didn't compete, we didn't win headers and we didn't win tackles, and if you don't do that then you can't win a game.
"Tuesday night was not an Oxford United performance. We've got to show everybody including ourselves that we mean business.
"We've said since the start of the season that if we're around the top come the last quarter of the season then we'll fancy our chances, but we'll only fancy our chances if we compete and go about our business in the right way.
“Kettering have got a great away record so they'll come here and fancy it and want to try and take advantage of us after Tuesday, but I've got to say that if I'm a player in our dressing room then I'm rubbing my hands together and saying, 'bring it on'.”
Picture courtesy of Steve Daniels
