Chris Wilder knows that Oxford United will have to be at the top of their game at Southend on Saturday.

The U’s face an incredibly tough next six matches, with away trips to the top three teams in League Two, as well as an FA Cup tie at Sheffield United.

In between are a home game against table-topping Southend in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on Tuesday, and a clash with fifth-placed Cheltenham at the end of the month.

But the U’s head into the matches full of confidence after two superb home displays against Port Vale and Plymouth.

“Why shouldn’t we be confident?” Wilder said.

“But matches don’t come any tougher than Saturday when we play against a team that is in fantastic nick at the moment.

“We know we are going to have to be at our best to get something from the game.

“We need to make good decisions all over the pitch.”

Southend have won nine of their last ten matches and lead Crawley on goal difference at the top of the table.

And Wilder says that with Paul Sturrock in charge, they have somebody who knows how to get teams promoted.

“They are on a fantastic run, and I am not surprised,” Wilder said.

“The manager’s CV is full of promotions and you don’t get that if you are not a very good manager.

“He gets the best out of his players, is getting just that at the moment and it’s a great test for my side.”

He added: “We should be confident going there, but we have got too much about us to get carried away.

“The players have been with me now long enough to know that won’t happen.

“We go to Southend and don’t want the gap between us to grow, but want to try and pull them back to us.”