OXFORD United are hoping to take advantage of another Sky Bet Championship side rotating their squad when Brighton & Hove Albion visit in the EFL Cup tonight.

The Seagulls made 11 changes for their first-round tie at home to Colchester United and manager Chris Hughton is expected to shuffle his pack again.

At the same stage United won 1-0 away to Birmingham City – who made nine changes – a year on from knocking out a Brentford side, who swapped their entire line-up.

By contrast, head coach Michael Appleton is due to largely keep faith with the XI which beat Peterborough United 2-1 in Sky Bet League One on Saturday.

It is likely to mean Josh Ruffels keeps his place at left back and the 22-year-old is hoping United will get a boost when the team sheets are published.

He said: “If they’re not at it on the day, we’ll be ready for them.

“At Birmingham we showed we can do it, so we’re looking forward to it.

“They are a good side and if they make a few changes you never know, it could be another good cup run for us.

“We have proved we can do it before, so why not again?”

The reward could be significant, with the Premier League sides in European competition this season entering at the third round stage.

For United it would be the first time they had reached the last-32 since the 2002/03 campaign.

Having played for Birmingham City, Wes Thomas knows what it is like to go into a cup tie against a side from the lower divisions.

And although Brighton won a pre-season friendly at the Kassam Stadium 4-0 last month, the striker knows if United can get off to a good start, the doubts will begin to creep in.

Thomas, who has scored twice on his two home appearances this season, said: “They will probably be a bit confident because we’ve played them already.

“But I think it will be a completely different game.

“For them there might be a few butterflies and nervousness because they are favourites to go through. We need to start well.

“It’s not going to be an easy game, but we knew that about Birmingham and we dealt with that.

“Hopefully we can do it again.”

United will be forced into one change, with new loan signing Phil Edwards cup-tied after featuring for Burton Albion in the first round.

Sam Long is likely to take his place, while up front Ryan Taylor could return after making an impact from the bench on Saturday.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Long, Dunkley, Skarz, Ruffels, MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, Maguire, Hemmings, Thomas, Taylor, J Roberts, T Roberts, Crowley, Rothwell, Martin, Welch-Hayes, Buchel.

Brighton: from Maenpaa, Hunt, White, Ince, Adekugbe, Murphy, Norwood, Holla, LuaLua, Baldock, Manu, Murray, Sidwell, Knockaert, Dunk, Bong, Bruno, Huenemeier, Ankergren.