OXFORD United boss Chris Wilder has a couple of big calls to make ahead of today’s trip to npower League Two leaders Southend United.

The U’s manager must decide whether to recall right back Damian Batt (pictured) to the starting line-up after serving a one-match suspension last week.

In his absence, Andy Whing did a fine job as United beat Port Vale 2-1 and climb to fourth in the table.

The other dilemma facing Wilder is who to play up front.

With Rob Hall returning to West Ham, the third forward position looks to be between Deane Smalley, Danny Philliskirk or Jonathan Franks.

However, Wilder says that those sorts of decisions are part and parcel of being a manager.

“I’ve not got a problem making those types of decisions,” he said.

“To be fair, it’s the decisions when people are not playing well that are the harder ones to make.

“We have done well of late and players who haven’t been playing are desperate to get a place in the team, and those in the team are desperate to hold onto the shirt.

“Whichever team I pick will be one good enough to get something from the game.”

Wilder knows that travelling to the league’s best team will be the biggest test of his side this season, but the U’s manager says that the confidence in and around the team is rightfully high.

“We have been doing well,” he said.

“But we know that going to the best team in the league, who at the moment have the best manager and best players means that we have to be at the top of our game.

“That means that we need to make the right decisions all over the pitch throughout the game.

“If we don’t do that, we’ll be in trouble, but if we do, we’ll have a good chance.”

Southend will be without Bilel Mohsni, who is suspended for picking up his fifth booking of the season in last weekend’s win against Macclesfield.

He is likely to be replaced by Ryan Leonard, who came on as sub at Moss Rose.

Southend Utd: probable line-up Daniels, Clohessy, Phillips, Barker, Gilbert, Leonard, Ferdinand, Kalala, Timlin, Hall, Dickinson. Subs: Bentley (gk), Grant, Johnson, B Sturrock, Harris.

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Batt, Whing, Duberry, Wright, Davis, Heslop, McLaren, Leven, Potter, Constable, Philliskirk, Franks, Smalley, Hall, Brown, Payne, Kinniburgh.