OXFORD United Women are brimming with confidence ahead of tonight’s mouth-watering clash with Southampton.

The U’s host their FA Women’s National League Southern Premier title rivals at Court Place Farm (7.45pm) as both sides look to strengthen their promotion credentials.

United are second in the table, two points behind Ipswich Town with a game in hand, but Southampton could well prove the bigger threat.

Liam Gilbert’s side have played five more matches than third-place Saints, making their ten-point advantage more precarious than it seems.

An 11-match winning run in the league means United are full of belief and Hannah Mackenzie is confident they can maintain their good form.

The defender said: “If you were to talk to any of our team or the coaches, we think we’re the team to go up.

“We did lose a few points at the start of the season that we wish we hadn’t and we’ve rectified that.

“It’s a lot of pressure to be at the top, but I think we’re in a good stint to keep it that way.”

Teammate Riva Casley added: “Confidence is through the roof, you can even see it in training.

“Leading into each game the confidence just builds, we’ve built such a strong unit.”

Southampton have only dropped three points all season, but United have won every game they have played at Court Place Farm.

Mackenzie added: “We’re confident, we’ve never lost at home and we’re not planning on doing so.

“We’re going to make sure we don’t give them the points for them to come any closer.”

It is now more than five months since the U’s dropped points in Premier South, with Crawley Wasps the last team to take anything from them in their 1-0 win on October 3.

It has created a tight-knit dressing room, as goalkeeper Rose Kite explained.

“The run we’ve had has built our bond so much stronger,” she said.

“We all want exactly the same outcome so if we can pull it out the bag we’ve got it.”

Read also: Oxford United promote Her Game Too against Burton Albion

United have benefitted from sessions at the club’s training ground on Thursdays, overseen by men’s head coach Karl Robinson and other first-team staff.

The U’s boss is expected to attend tonight’s match and is a big supporter of the women's game, which defender Casley revealed is not necessarily the norm.

She said: “Personally it’s the most I’ve seen a men’s manager involved in the women’s side.

“You see his face all the time, he comes and watches training and supports us at games.

“Even down to the little things he can do so much and make such a big impact.”

Mackenzie added: “We’re doing our sessions on a Thursday afternoon, one with him and one with the girls in the evening.

“The difference in the speed we play at now is huge and we feel so backed by him and the other coaches.”