Chris Wilder says his Oxford United team can expect fiercely competitive opponents when they take on their old Conference rivals, Stevenage, at the Lamex Stadium on Tuesday.

It’s the first battle this season between the two teams promoted from the Blue Square Premier last year, with Graham Westley’s team facing Oxford again at the Kassam Stadium exactly one month today.

This npower League Two game was originally scheduled for Boxing Day, but was called off because Stevenage’s pitch was frozen.

Since then, the Hertfordshire side have shown what they are capable of by sending Premier League Newcastle crashing out of the FA Cup, while the U’s have demonstrated their play-off credentials with wins over Torquay, Port Vale, Aldershot, Bradford and Rotherham.

A run of four league games without a victory has caused Stevenage to slip to 15th, but that will make them even more determined.

“What you always know when you go there is that they give their lot every time and they always turn up,” said Wilder.

“Very rarely are there days when the effort and commitment is not on show, and that’s testament to the manager, and the way he motivates the side.

“It’s not an easy place to go.

“People may say they’re not on a fantastic run, but they are comfortable in the league.

“A month ago they beat Newcastle, and deservedly so, and ran Reading very close.

“And with the clubs’ recent history, this is a game they’ll be desperately looking to win.

“We’re going to have to earn anything we get there.”

There have always been familiar faces for Oxford at Stevenage, with John Dreyer the assistant manager, and Jon Ashton and Luke Foster among the playing squad.

But there will be no Yemi Odubade this time.

On transfer deadline day, he joined Newport County on loan, in a deal that brought the prolific Craig Reid to Broadhall Way for a club record undisclosed six-figure fee.

Stevenage also signed Kenya international striker Taiwo Atieno last week.

Simon Clist and Tom Craddock, who were on the bench against Rotherham, could be involved from the start for United.

But Wilder has difficult decisions to make, because Jack Midson and Simon Heslop came in and did well.

Striker Steve MacLean said: “We have a different game plan for each match.

“Stevenage are a very physical team, they’ll work hard and will be well organised, so it’ll be a tough game for us.”

Damian Batt completes his three-game ban for his red card at Southend.