Jack Midson looks set to take over from the suspended James Constable in Oxford United’s all-ticket game at Luton on Tuesday night (7.45).

That may not necessarily weaken the U’s, who reclaimed top spot in the Blue Square Premier at the weekend.

For although 19-goal top scorer Constable is sometimes regarded as indispensible, he was disappointing against Kidderminster on Saturday, while Midson has banged in three goals in his last four starts, and will be eager to show that he deserves to be in Chris Wilder’s starting line-up every week.

New signing Chris Hargreaves could come into the reckoning as well if the U’s boss feels he wants to strengthen the side in the middle of the park.

Five months ago, this fixture was considered one that might decide the title, but Luton have had a difficult first season since relegation from League Two, with both Mick Harford, who was sacked, and his replacement, Richard Money, finding the burden of fans’ expectations weighing heavily.

The Hatters, 11 points behind Oxford and Stevenage, are more realistically fighting for a play-off place, but they will be desperate for revenge after United’s 2-0 win over them at the Kassam Stadium in September.

Scorer of a spectacular opening goal that night, Jamie Cook admitted at the weekend that he didn’t know whether he would keep his place for tonight’s Kenilworth Road clash.

Not that this is a new fixture for him. He was one of the substitutes in United’s Division 2 match at Luton back in September 1999.

He said: “I’ve played at Luton before . . . there’s a bit of rivalry between Oxford and Luton, there always has been, so it will be a good atmosphere, good crowd, and it’s a game everyone’s looking forward to playing in.

“I haven’t had my best performance on Saturday, so maybe I won’t be in the team. I’d like to be, but the gaffer’s obviously going to pick certain teams for certain games, and that’s the way to do it, I suppose.”

The gate is likely to be close to 10,000 with Oxford having sold out of their 1,500 allocation, and Luton not far off selling out of theirs.

Wilder said: “It’ll be a proper football match where I think both teams will have a right go at it.

“Luton will look at it as a game they should be winning, and we’ll go there full of beans at being top of the league, so it’s got all the ingredients for a real decent game.”

Dangerous striker Matthew Barnes-Homer could return to the Hatters’ squad after missing their 1-0 win at Barrow because of illness.

But with Tom Craddock reportedly playing well at Holker Street, Barnes-Homer will probably be on the bench. Claude Gnapka should be OK, according to Money, after the Frenchman was withdrawn in the game at Barrow.

Luton have had no problem winning games on their travels, and are unbeaten away in the league since September.

But they have taken just 21 points from the 39 available at home, and their 3-2 defeat by part-timers Ebbsfleet United in their last home game was greeted by a chorus of boos.

Money said: “Our home form has been patchy and we need to put it right. There will be a big atmosphere tonight.

“You can’t keep disappointing people without there being a reaction. It’s down to us as a group to really keep them with us. ”

Second-placed Stevenage Borough are at home to Mansfield tonight, while York do not play.

Luton Tn: (from) Tyler, Kovacs, Pilkington, Gnakpa, Murray, Keane, Newton, Nicholls, Hall, Hatch, Craddock, Barnes-Homer, Gore, Howells, Nelthorpe, Nwokeji.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Day, Wright, Tonkin, Potter, Bulman, Har-greaves, Clist, Deering, Midson, Turley, Cook, Creighton, M Green, F Green, Sandwith, Chapman.

THIS is probably the first match this season in which Oxford have not been favourites to win the game. Bookmakers Blue Square make Luton 6-4, Oxford 13-8 and the draw 9-4.

ADAM Murray’s prolonged absence from the side with a troublesome back injury is leading to fears that he may need an operation. He is set to see a specialist to gauge how serious it is.