INJURIES and transfers mean both Oxford United and Portsmouth are different sides to the ones that met just over four weeks ago.

The teams played out a 2-2 draw at Grenoble Road on January 30, as James Henry rescued a late point for the U’s.

Tyler Goodrham nudged United in front just before half-time when he finished low into the bottom corner, however Colby Bishop struck on the goal line, before debutant Callum Lang put Pompey in front.

Henry though came off the bench and nodded in from close range, to steal a draw for the U’s.

ANALYSIS: How likely is it that U’s will hit Des Buckingham’s play-off points target?

Since that game, both sides have undergone surgery, with players returning from injury, fresh fitness concerns and late window additions.

United now can now call upon Sam Long, Billy Bodin, Josh Murphy and Will Goodwin, while Jay Matete and Owen Dale were both added on deadline day.

Pompey meanwhile have lost Terry Devlin, Tom McIntyre and Joe Morrell to season-ending injuries, although players such as Lang, Owen Moxon and Myles Peart-Harris were all added during the January window, and have had time to gel with their new teammates.

U’s head coach Des Buckingham said: “They’ve had a good January transfer window, on what was already a very strong team.

“I’m not too sure whether they’re better or not, because they’re a strong team anyway.

“We’ve already shown we can compete against them and take a result.

“We’re certainly in a better place since we last played. I thought the players that evening performed extremely well and finished the game extremely strongly.

“Jamo arrived at the back post to equalise, and we’ve got a stronger squad now to pick from.

“Whether it’s Portsmouth at the top of the table, or Cheltenham the following week, we give the best account of ourselves as we can.”

United head to the Sky Bet League One leaders looking to rectify the 2-1 defeat at home to Leyton Orient last time out.

Buckingham said: “It’s a good opportunity to put things right. We were disappointed with the last result at home.

“They’re a good team, but we’ve played them already at the Kassam, and it was a very good game, and we finished very strongly.

“It positions us well. I’m not sure how many will be expecting us to go and get a result, but internally here, certainly with the way we’ve set up, we’ve done as much as we can to go there and give a good account of ourselves.”