Oxford City Stars will be without Patrick Knightly as they look to make it five wins in a row at home to Peterborough at Oxpens Road on Saturday (6.15).

Knightly picked up a knee ligament injury in Stars' South Cup win at Telford last Saturday, though teammates Will Skaife (leg injury) and Nick Oliver, who had five stitches in a head wound, are set to return after being crocked in the same game.

Oxford coach Darryl Morvan said the clash with Peterborough, who are unbeaten in 16 games, could go a long way to deciding Stars' destiny this season.

"Saturday is a pivotal game," stressed Morvan after training this week.

"Both ourselves and Peterborough have dropped two points, ours in the loss to them in November, with them dropping points in drawing with Swindon and Cardiff, both of whom we have beaten this season.

"It may be that Peterborough come into the game slightly over-confident, but I feel that would be a mistake as we have proved on numerous occasions this year our depth of character, and desire to do well.

"We are beginning to display the kind of hockey I know this team are capable of, and it has taken some time, with players coming into the squad from other teams, and new partnerships and line combinations taking a while to gel together - a fact that hasn't been helped by injuries."

Morvan wants his side to end the year on a high against the Cambridgeshire outfit as it's their last game in Oxford in 2007.

"Our cause would definitely be helped by the support of a big crowd," he said.

"With this game having the potential to go a long way to deciding who wins our conference, it would be great for the boys to have a lot of backing in their efforts, especially as it's our last home game before the new year".