The cavalry return . . . Oxford United’s rested players are back on Tuesday night as Chris Wilder’s men attempt to stretch their lead at the top of the table.

AFC Wimbledon make their first visit to the Kassam Stadium in a Blue Square Premier game vital for both clubs.

The U’s will be hoping to stretch their lead over Stevenage Borough to six points, Stevenage not playing until tomorrow when they visit Wrexham.

And Wimbledon, promoted as Blue Square South champions last April, are now just two points off the play-off places following their eye-catching 2-1 win at Luton on Saturday.

Ryan Clarke, Rhys Day, Chris Hargreaves, Anthony Tonkin and Sam Deering all look set to come back into the Oxford team.

Wilder said: “They’ll come back in to freshen it up.

“We always said that later on in the FA Trophy competition, we would prioritise it and that’s what we did.”

Striker Jack Midson, who also missed out on the Trophy defeat by Kidderminster at the weekend because of a dead leg, will have a late fitness test.

Wimbledon are in fine form. As well as their victory at Kenilworth Road, they have drawn at Stevenage and Cambridge United since Christmas, and seen off Mansfield 2-0.

Dons boss Terry Brown said: “We travel to the Kassam Stadium in a good frame of mind after one of our best results of the season.

“I watched the Luton v Oxford game recently, which Oxford were unlucky to lose. Given what I saw, we shall be practising our inswinging corners before the game!”

The U’s are playing their fourth home game in a row, though striker Matt Green said he doesn’t mind.

“We’ve got a great set of fans here, really supportive, they’ve carried us and they ARE the 12th Man at the end of the day. I know I prefer to play in front of big crowds, and fans that you know are going to get behind you than just playing in front of no crowds.”

He added: “It was a good win for Wimbledon at Luton, and it’s going to be a tough game. They’re doing all right in the league, considering they just got promoted last season.”

United will have Franny Green available after he recovered from illness. On-loan Coventry forward Ashley Cain will also be hoping to be in the squad.

Wimbledon defender Ben Judge continues to deputise for Brett Johnson, who has a knee injury. Defender Kenn-edy Adjei is also out.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Day, Wright, Tonkin, Chapman, Hargreaves, Bulman, Clist, Deering, Constable, Turley, M Green, Midson, Cain, Creighton, F Green, Sandwith, Cook.

AFC Wimbledon: (from) Pullen, Judge, Lorraine, Blanchett, Hatton, Taylor, Gregory, Hendry, Poole, Kedwell, Elder, Conroy, Wellard, Main, Brown, Duncan.

OXFORD United’s FA Trophy conquerors, Kidder-minster will face Stevenage in the competition’s semi-finals on March 13 and 20, with the second leg at Broadhall Way.

Salisbury are at home in the first leg of the other semi-final against the winners of the Barrow v York fourth-round tie.

HOLDERS Oxford United will face Oxford City at Court Place Farm in the Oxfordshire Senior Cup semi-final on Wednesday, March 3 (7.45).

A date and venue for the other semi-final between Banbury United and North Leigh has still to be decided.