ASSISTANT manager Danny Nicholls said Oxford City won’t be daunted by the occasion when they travel to Maidstone United in Vanarama National League South tomorrow afternoon.

The Kent side enjoyed a record crowd of 2,636 for their home season opener against Ebbsfleet United, but Nicholls – who again takes charge of the City side in the absence of general manager Justin Merritt – feels a big crowd will act as an incentive for his side.

“We love that, we thrive on it,” he said.

“If you look at last season, we played our best football on the best pitches with the biggest crowds.

“We look forward to those games against big sides in front of a big crowd.

“That’s what we’re in it for.”

Midfielder Declan Benjamin could feature in City’s starting XI for the first time this season after recovering from an ankle injury sustained during pre-season, while new striker Vinny Mukendi is also expected to feature for the first time.

However, on-loan winger Omari Sterling James is likely to miss out with an ankle injury sustained early in last weekend’s 2-2 draw with Chelmsford City.

Maidstone’s Gallagher Stadium was famously one of the first in the country to feature an artificial 3G playing surface – something City were hoping to emulate at Marsh Lane this season.

But although City’s plans had to be postponed due to delays obtaining planning permission, Nicholls believes his side will be comfortable on an artificial pitch.

“That’s something we’re used to because we train on a 3G surface all the time,” he said.

“When we have to play on a poor pitch, like at home, we struggle to play the flowing football we’re capable of.

“On a good surface I think we could cause them real trouble.

“I’m hoping it will play into our hands with the quality we’ve got.”

And City are brimming with confidence after Monday night’s 3-1 victory at St Albans City.

Nicholls added: “Their manager said to me after the game that we’re the best side he’s seen in the two years they’ve been in the division and that we were close to the quality of a full professional outfit.

“It’s a big compliment.”

TOMORROW’S SQUAD

Oxford City (v Maidstone Utd, away): from Walker, Coulson, Lapoujade, Del Alamo, Henderson, Santiago, Benjamin, Isaac, Pond, Bubb, Lafuente, Fleet, Pifarré, Lawrence, Stonehouse, Arzamendi, Mukendi.