Simon Clist has warned his Oxford United teammates not to be fooled by the dire position of Tuesday night’s opponents, Cambridge United, in the Blue Square Premier.

The Abbey Stadium outfit have slipped into the bottom three after losing their six points against Chester City, following Chester’s expulsion from the Conference, and then having their game at the weekend postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.

The playing surface has recovered, though, and tonight’s rearranged match is not in doubt.

Midfielder Clist, the only ever-present in the Oxford side this season, said: “Their form of late has been surprising, and it seems strange to see where they are in the table, but they’ve still got some very good players.”

Anthony Tonkin, who joined from Cambridge this season, will face his former club, and Ryan Clarke looks likely to be in goal for the leaders.

He would have probably missed out on Saturday had the Chester match gone ahead, because of a dead leg.

Clist said: “Tonks [Tonkin] obviously knows a lot of the Cambridge players and he’s been surprised by some of their recent results.

“But we’re expecting a tough game. In every away game you have to go in with a certain mental toughness, and Cambridge will be especially tough because they have a decent home following.

“Then again, we’ll have a lot of our own fans there and they have been incredible in their support of us.”

Clist admitted: “I’ve been carrying a bit of a niggle – a bit of a groin strain and missed a few days training just to let it settle down.”

But the former Bristol City and Torquay player should be fit, and he could be back in a more central role if the U’s revert to their more customary away system after switching to 4-4-2 for recent home games.

Sam Deering has shaken off his illness, while Adam Murray is making good progress from his back injury.

“I imagine Adam will take part in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup game against Oxford City on Wednesday, and then if he comes through that and has another three or four days’ training, he’ll be ready,” said manager Chris Wilder.

Captain Paul Carden returns for Cambridge following a virus, but midfielders Antonio Murray (suspension) and Robbie Willmott (knee) are out.

Cambridge Utd: (from) Brown, Gleeson, Coulson, Partridge, Palmer, Carden, McAuley, Reason, Russell, Crow, Phillips, Roberts, Walker, Willock, Ives, Beesley, Saah.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Chapman, Day, Wright, Tonkin, Bulman, Hargreaves, Clist, Deering, Constable, M Green, Turley, Creighton, Batt, Sandwith, Midson, Grant, Cain, Cook, F Green.

OXFORD United’s away game at Hayes & Yeading has been brought forward by 24 hours to Good Friday, April 2 (3pm).