KARL Robinson is planning to change half his outfield team todat in a bid to keep Oxford United’s energy levels high.

The clash at AFC Wimbledon is the fourth of five games in a fortnight and fresh legs are required.

United’s need has also increased after the squad was hit by illness during the week.

The start to training was delayed on Friday to give players extra time to recover from their exertions in the 1-0 win over Lincoln City, which took the U’s third in Sky Bet League One.

They are the form team in the division, but Robinson knows the pack has to be shuffled.

He said: “In my head I was always going to make five changes anyway.

“We picked a team on Christmas Eve for Lincoln and Wimbledon.

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“It obviously depends on what materialises in the first game, but all the players we were worried about have seemed to come through OK.”

Jamie Mackie is likely to start as Robinson continues to rotate his strikers, while all those who were on the bench on Thursday come into the reckoning for a place in the XI.

United will need a boost in a fixture which is traditionally a challenge, with Wimbledon winning the last three meetings between the sides at Kingsmeadow.

They are also in good form, coming from behind on Boxing Day to beat United’s promotion rivals Bristol Rovers for a third win in five games.

In pictures: Oxford Utd v Lincoln City

As a former Milton Keynes Dons manager, Robinson’s presence adds an extra layer of spice.

“I’ll get a warm reception,” he said.

“It will be a game they will be looking forward to – I think it’s against me and MK are the games they want to win more than any other.

“It will be a very physical contest and a very good one.

“When you go to their ground you always know you’ll be in for a very difficult match.

“There’s an intensity obviously that they bring to the game which is unusual.

“But they play some really good football as well.

“The win on Boxing Day shows they have the players to play well and we have to make sure we’re on our mettle when we go there.”

Like United, the Dons have a lengthy injury list, with Anthony Wordsworth and Kwesi Appiah among those in the treatment room.