Oxford United could have up to three new signings making their debuts at Eastbourne today.

Defenders Adam Chapman and Shane Killock, signed on emergency loans from Sheff-ield United and Huddersfield Town respectively yesterday, join on-loan Leicester striker Ricky Sappleton in United’s squad.

Sappleton and Killock, a centre half who is likely to replace the suspended Chris Willmott, look set to make their full debuts, while Chapman may be on the bench unless there is a further injury setback.

Leading scorer James Constable says he can’t wait to continue his striking partnership with Sappleton.

The two appeared to strike up an immediate understanding when Sappleton came off the bench with half an hour to go against Salisbury on New Year’s Day and then provided the assist for Constable to break the deadlock before scoring himself.

“He looks like a good player and someone I’m really going to enjoy playing with,” Constable said. “He got a great goal and a great assist.

“I can’t wait to get back in on Saturday to continue that partnership with him.

“We’ve been doing well at home and all the lads are desperate to sort this away form out now.”

Willmott is banned after collecting five yellow cards.

Sappleton will start up front alongside 12-goal Constable, and Yemi Odubade is hoping to be fit enough to feature after his recent knee injury.

If Odubade is fit, manager Chris Wilder will have a number of options, including playing two wingers, going with a front three, or keeping Odubade on the bench ready to come on against his old club in the second half.

Wilder stressed: “We’ve got to make sure we’re not the soft touch away that I think we are perceived to be in this league. We’ve got to make sure at Eastbourne that we’re big and strong and that we compete.”

This is United’s first visit to Eastbourne since they dropped into the Conference, though they did visit Priory Lane four years ago, when still a Football League club.

That was for an FA Cup first-round tie, with Oxford getting a 1-1 draw on the Sussex coast before beating the then Conference South side 3-0 in the Kassam Stadium replay.

Borough won promotion to the Blue Square Premier through the play-offs in May.

After a shaky start this season, which included a 6-3 thumping by Oxford at the Kassam Stadium on August 16, they have regrouped well and have won five of their last eight league games.

Thursday’s 2-0 victory at Lewes gave them the double over their near-neighbours.

One quirk about Borough’s recent results is that they don’t seem to draw many. Their last 11 games have been either won or lost, including an embarrassing 1-0 FA Trophy defeat at Swindon Supermarine.

This week they signed ex-U’s midfielder Danny Brown on a permanent contract until the end of the season from Cambridge United, and Plymouth duo Dan Smith and Ashley Barnes on extended loans.

Barnes too played for Oxford United, in a spell on loan from Argyle last season, and scored in a 2-0 at Kidderminster. He bagged the opening goal in Borough’s win at Lewes.

Wilder was pleased with six points out of six from the last two home games, but says there is still considerable room for improvement.

He said: “They have been two good home wins, but we’re not yet playing how I want us to.

“There were certain aspects that drove me crazy on Thursday. Our decision-making in the first half was poor, but the one thing you’ve got to have is a desire to go and win a football match and to be fair to the players, they had that desire.”

Eastbourne: (from) Hook, Brown, Pullan, Jenkins, Lovett, Wormull, Smith, Barnes, M Crabb, Smart, Harding, N Crabb, Atkin, Johnson, Goulding, Lightwood.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Clarke, Killock, Foster, Day, Haldane, Hutchinson, Murray, Trainer, Sappleton, Constable, Chapman, Odubade, Hinchliffe, Fisher, Taylor, Groves.