Oxford United will be out to make home advantage tell as they begin the most crucial period of their season against Stevenage on Tuesday night.

Chris Wilder’s team kept their League Two play-off hop-es alive by winning 2-1 at promotion-chasing Port Vale at the weekend.

Now they face Stevenage, Crewe and Burton in three tough games in a row at the Kassam Stadium over the next 12 days.

In the past, they have had some feisty encounters with Stevenage, their old promotion rivals from the Conference. And with Graham Westley’s side, regarded as one of the most physical in the division, chalking up a 1-0 at Wycombe on Saturday, this evening’s contest could be high-octane.

“I think we, and all our supporters, know what’s going to come,” said U’s boss Wilder.

“There are no secrets between us and Stevenage. We’ve got to make sure we concentrate and do what we’re good at.

“If we do that, as proven on Saturday and a lot of times this season, we’re a good footballing side and a dangerous team to play against.

“If we can take a fair chunk of points out of these next three games we’re right in it. If we can’t, it’s going to be real difficult for us.”

Wilder faces an interesting selection dilemma – whether to stick by all, or just some of the players that earned the win at Port Vale.

There are a couple of injury doubts, which he was keeping under wraps.

He added: “We have to make sure we pick the right side that wins the game.”

Oxford fans could play a part too, as they look set to crank up the volume.

U’s midfielder Josh Payne, who looks set to keep his place after a fine showing at Vale Park, said: “There’s still ten games to go and we need to get ten good results. I think we’re more than capable of doing that if we help each other and work hard as a squad.”

Stevenage left back Scott Laird is suspended after getting sent off at Wycombe.

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

Stevenage: (from) Day, Henry, Charles, Roberts, Wilson, Mousinho, Bostwick, Murphy, Sinclair, Harrison, Foster, Bridges, Beardsley, Bayes, Long, May, Reid, Winn, Byrom, Maamria.

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