OXFORD United’s first home game of the season looks set to be a cracker, with both managers predicting an open contest.

It is the first of two meetings with Peterborough United at the

Kassam Stadium in the space of four days.

While both will want to progress in the Carabao Cup come Tuesday night, the priority is on claiming a first Sky Bet League One victory.

United fared better on the opening day last weekend, drawing 1-1 at Sunderland, while Peterborough United’s revamped team crashed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Fleetwood Town.

For U’s boss Karl Robinson, it is another opportunity to see how his side – which remains short on options up front – compares to one of the division’s fancied clubs.

He said: “It’s great because it gives us a good barometer of where we’re at.

“This is a new team developing, just like Peterborough even though they’ve made some fantastic signings it’s a work in progress.

“Sometimes this isn’t a bad time to be playing these teams.

“But on any given day they can bang five past anybody, they have the firepower to do that.

“We’re jealous sometimes of their firepower, but it will be a good test.”

Plenty of teams visiting the Kassam this season will look to set up defensively and frustrate United, but Peterborough are unlikely to fall into that category.

Robinson said: “I don’t think they’ll sit back, it’s the last thing in their thought process as a club.

“It could end up at certain stages being a basketball match.

“The worry about that is they’ve got top players where if you’re too open they can really hurt you. You have to be cute in your game plan.”

Robinson and Darren Ferguson know each other well after numerous meetings between their sides over the past decade.

And the Posh boss predicts both teams will attack the game.

He said: “It’s a big pitch which will suit us, but we are playing against another very good side.

“I’ve known Karl Robinson a long time and there isn’t normally much mystery about how his teams play. They will be a good footballing side.”

The influential Marcus Maddison could start for the visitors after only featuring as a substitute last week.

United could be unchanged from the Stadium of Light, with winger Anthony Forde more likely to make his debut in midweek.

TOMORROW’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Cadden, Dickie, Mousinho, Ruffels, Brannagan, Gorrin, Henry, Woodburn, Fosu, Mackie, Hall, Napa, Hanson, Sykes, Long, Moore, Stevens.

Peterborough Utd: from Pym, Mason, Kent, Beevers. Butler, Knight, Woodyard, Maddison, Boyd, Dembele, Toney, Eisa, Kanu, Tasdemir, Reed, Ward, Blake-Tracy, Naismith, Chapman.