DARREN Patterson has described the remaining league games this season as "seven massive cup finals" for those hoping to get a new contract.

"I'm making my players fully aware of that, and anybody who thinks we've got nothing to play for this season couldn't be further from the mark," he said.

"A lot of my players are playing for their futures."

Among those desperate to do well for personal reasons, as well as the team, when United take on Weymouth tomorrow are striking trio Justin Richards, Matt Green and Craig McAllister, midfielders Jamie Hand, Eddie Anaclet and Michael Blackwood, and defenders Matt Day and Michael Howard.

Howard and Green are the only ones who seem certain to get an offer, so the others have much to prove.

Day is set to replace the suspended Luke Foster alonsgide Barry Quinn at centre back, with James Clarke coming in at right back.

That is not the only option for Patterson, however.

"I'll either do that and go like for like, or I could change the system," he said.

"We want to continue from how we have played in the last few games and play on the front foot and go at teams," said United's manager, who will be taking a larger squad to both this game and to Torquay on Tuesday.

"You never know what's going to happen, and I want players who might have to play at Torquay aware of what we're trying to do in the first one."

The U's will be hoping to get the first goal.

Against Northwich last Saturday, and too often this season, they have been unable to hit back after falling back.

"To me that's not down to a lack of effort, but to character," Patterson said.

"A lot of the best sides are able to come back from a goal down."

Hand needs a good performance to win over the supporters as much as his manager.

When he's been good, he's been very good, but against both Burton and Northwich, he was disappointing.

"He can't afford that," said Patterson. "He needs to have a consistency.

"But he's a very honest boy, he knows he didn't perform to the best of his ability last Saturday.

"The reasons for taking him off, from my point of view, were clear - I'd kept him on for the full 90 minutes, when he'd been a bit like that, against Burton, and that was a mistake.

"I've had a chat with him, and as I say, he's an honest boy. We need him fully firing because on his day he can be very good.

"He's controlled the tempo of some of our games, can see a pass, and we've asked him to keep things simple and give Adam Murray as much of the ball as possible.

"He and Adam have known each other for a long time - from when they were playing for Watford and Derby - and I've got them rooming together.

"Yes, his form has dipped a couple of times, and both games have been at home, but he never shies away from the ball. He just needs to improve his consistency."