Michael Appleton has challenged his players to show their class this week against two sides the Oxford United head coach believes will go on to claim automatic promotion, writes David Pritchard.

They host second-placed Shrewsbury Town at the Kassam Stadium on Boxing Day (3pm), before visiting another high-flying side, Plymouth Argyle, 48 hours later.

Inconsistent results mean the U’s go into the Christmas period closer to Sky Bet League Two’s relegation zone than the play-off places, but Appleton is adamant they have the quality to worry the top sides.

And this week gives United an opportunity to finish 2014 on a high.

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The U’s boss said: “That’s the message I’ve said to the players ‘come on then, let’s show people what you’ve got’.

“If this is the cream of the crop of the division, let’s show people what we’re about.”

United are predicting a season-high attendance of 8,500 for the Shrews clash and top-scorer Danny Hylton is relishing the prospect of back-to-back games against top teams.

He said: “We fancy ourselves against anyone.”

Johnny Mullins and James Roberts could return to the squad after ankle and hamstring injuries respectively.

Shrewsbury could name the same XI which started Saturday’s 1-0 home win over Morecambe.

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Riley, Mullins, Wright, Holmes-Dennis, Whing, Rose, Burns, Collins, Hylton, Campbell, Roberts, O’Dowda, Potter, Ruffels, Ashby, Meades, Dunkley, Crocombe.

Shrewsbury Tn: from Leuwiler, Goldson, Ellis, Knight-Percival, Passley, Woods, Grant, Lawrence, Demetriou, Collins, Akpa Akpro, Mangan, Vernon, Clark, Griffith, Vincent, Grandison, Halstead.

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