JUSTIN Merritt hopes to build a run of form to carry his Oxford City side into the Vanarama National League South play-off places – starting with victory at home to Wealdstone tomorrow.

A run of eight league games without a win had seen his side drop out of the promotion race, but after halting the slide with a 2-0 victory at Margate, City’s general manager is looking up the table once more.

Six points separate City from the final play-off spot and Merritt believes that if his side are going to mount a charge in the final ten games of the season they will have to put together a run of results.

“Every game is a big game now,” he said.

“If we’re going to get ourselves into the play-offs we need to produce results and if we can do that in the next three games and get ourselves onto a decent mini-run that’ll stand us in good stead.”

However, in order to do that they will have to overcome a Wealdstone side, who have been beaten just once in their last 14 league games, including a 2-2 draw with City just a month ago.

Winger Marlon Jackson is out after aggravating a hamstring injury, while there are also injury doubts over defender Jose Lapoujade (thigh) and midfielder Declan Benjamin (hamstring).

But despite the injury concerns, Merritt feels his side are more than capable of securing victory.

He said: “Last weekend the effort and enthusiasm were there for everyone to see and the reason we got the result was because we showed that application.

“You have to give yourself a chance in games by putting in the hard work.

“It’s unbelievable after the run we’ve been on that we’re still within a few points, but other sides have been out of form as well.

“I still feel our destiny is in our own hands.”

Oxford City (v Wealdstone, home): from Walker, Arzamendi, Lapoujade, Bevans, King, Santiago, Henderson, Fleet, Pond, Lafuente, Whichelow, Bubb, McDonagh, Benjamin, Pifarré, Stonehouse, Isaac.