Chris Wilder says his Oxford United team will need to be at their very best to win today’s League Two game against fourth-placed Rotherham United at the Kassam Stadium.

But the U’s have not been found wanting in previous home matches against the top teams so they go into this fixture full of belief and confidence.

Wilder said: “We’ve got to be at our absolute best, but the encouraging thing for me is that, when the big games come along here – and recently, because Bradford is a big game, and Cheltenham and Shrewsbury are decent sides – we’re in really good nick.

“And we can go back to the Port Vale game and the other big games here . . . when we need a big performance and a big result, we turn up.”

Oxford United, in ninth, are determined to stay in touch with the play-off pack through a testing eight days.

After today’s game against Rotherham, they travel to Stevenage next Tuesday, then Morecambe next Saturday.

“We’re strong as a squad, which I’m happy with,” said the U’s boss.

“We need to make sure over the next three games that we pick up a healthy points total to keep us in touch.”

The team has had their first free week since mid-January, giving them a chance to recharge the batteries.

“The players have had a couple of days off, to save their legs a bit as well, because we’ve had two tough weeks. But we’ve worked as well because this is a big game for us.”

United have a couple of injury doubts, one being Josh Payne, who hobbled out of the midweek reserve game with an ankle problem.

But there is plenty of depth in the squad, and options for Wilder.

He said: “We’ve got Simon Hackney, who’s getting integrated into the team, and Alfie (Potter) as well – I’m looking forward to those two working in tandem . . . coming on, if they don’t start. So we’ve got good attacking threats, some good players, and the spirit among the players is fantastic.”

Damian Batt is suspended.

Rotherham yesterday signed Bradford winger Omar Daley on loan for the season.

The Jamaican international, who scored twice against the U’s at Valley Parade in October is likely to be on the bench.

The Millers are also hoping to sign full backs Danny Coid and Callum Kennedy on loan from Blackpool and Swindon Town respectively in time.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Purkiss, Worley, Wright, Tonkin, Hall, McLaren, Clist, MacLean, Constable, Craddock, Sangare, Heslop, Midson, Potter, Hackney, Eastwood, Payne, Kinniburgh, Gaughan.

Rotherham Utd: (from) Warrington, Tonga, Newey, Fenton, Mullins, Law, Taylor, Marshall, Le Fondre, Moore, Annerson, Daley, Ashworth, Randall, Green, Harrison, Bradley, Coid, Kennedy.