Oxford United skipper Barry Quinn is suspended as Darren Patterson's side hope that Friday's new signings can inspire them to a vital three points against struggling Altrincham.

Quinn serves a one-game ban for his red card at Crawley on New Year's Day, but United's supporters will get their first chance to see Craig McAllister and Adam Murray after they signed in time to take on a side who lie in the Blue Square Premier relegation zone.

Mickey Corcoran is set to partner Luke Foster at the heart of the Oxford defence, with Patterson's big decision being over whether both the new faces go straight into the side.

The U's have scored just once in their last eight games, but have not conceded a league goal at home since October 11, when they drew 3-3 with Torquay.

However, with 12 points and nine clubs separating United from a play-off place, nothing less than victory today will do.

Oxford Utd: from Turley, Clarke, Foster, Corcoran, Jeannin, Willmott, Day, Pettefer, Hutchinson, Trainer, Ledgister, Murray, Rose, McAllister, Duffy, Odubade, Warrall, Benjamin, Fisher.

Altrincham: from Coburn, Lane, Tinson, Shotton, Jennings, Toulson, Lawton, King, Peyton, Little, Cahill, Scott, O'Neill, Sedgemore, McFadden, Aspinall.