DAMIAN Batt is expecting Oxford United’s supporters to create an intimidating atmosphere for Swindon Town in today’s derby.

Tickets were sold out months ago and a bumper crowd of just below 12,000 will cram into the Kassam Stadium for what is the Robins’ first visit in nearly a decade.

The away side will arrive four points clear at the top in npower League Two, but Batt is hoping the massed ranks of U’s supporters will be a significant factor.

“I’m sure it will be electric and the fans are really going to make them feel intimidated,” he said.

“It’s going to be a really great atmosphere and it’s something we’re all looking to forward to playing in.”

Despite being a virtual ever-present this season, one of the few games the full back missed was the 2-1 win at Swindon in August.

He said: “I was a bit disappointed, but I wasn’t 100 per cent right at the time.

“Being on the bench was probably the best thing for me because I had a niggle, but even when I came on it was a great occasion.

“The fans were tremendous, as they are every away game, and I’m sure they’ll be the same at the Kassam.”

Only Ryan Clarke and James Constable have played more games for the U’s in the existing squad and the 27-year-old fully appreciates the importance of the game to supporters.

Like most U’s fans, the Swindon fixtures were the first Batt looked for when the calendar was published last summer.

He said: “I actually did have a look because I know how much it means to the fans.

“It was always going to be interesting to see when the two games were in the season because I knew there would be a big buzz around both of them.

“I’ve been here three years and I know how important it is to the fans and all the staff at the club.”