MARK Rawle, the player with the best goalscoring record of anyone at the Kassam Stadium, is to undergo a programme of strengthening exercises to get himself fit enough to play.

The former Southend striker has yet to play this season because of a troublesome groin and pelvic problem.

But last season he found the net eight times, from just ten starts, and scored several spectacular goals.

A succession of fitness problems have left him injury-prone in the eyes of many supporters, but it has been a frustrating time both for him and the management because, technically, he's a very good player.

Rawle said: "I've seen the specialist and he's told me I need to to do strengthening exercises on the groin, hip and pelvic area."

United sports therapist Neil Sullivan said: "This is a problem Mark has had for a few years and we're trying to get to the bottom of it to get him playing."

Rawle is missing from United's line-up as they take on Shrewsbury today, along with Dave Woozley, Mark E'Beyer, Barry Quinn and Chris Hackett.

Coming in for his debut is midfielder Jamie Hand, who has joined on a month's loan from Watford.

U's boss Graham Rix is urging his team to take the shackles off and go for goals.

"We realised quite quickly that we needed to tighten up defensively and we've done that," he said.

"Now the message is to retain that but to take the shackles off when we are attacking."

Shrewsbury, who chalked up their first win of the season when beating Northampton 2-0 last Saturday, will give late fitness tests to Trevor Challis (shin) and Dave Walton (knee).

Manager Jimmy Quinn must decide whether to bring back Jamie Tolley, who scored the goal when the Shrews last faced Oxford, losing 2-1 at Gay Meadow in March 2003.

Tolley was suspended for the Northampton game and after the team won, Quinn kept the same side for the midweek cup tie against Tranmere.

Oxford Utd: (from) Tardif, Mackay, Ashton, Roget, Robinson, Basham, Hand, Wanless, Wolleaston, Bradbury, Mooney, Brown, Alsop, Cox, Parker, Morgan, Molyneaux.

Shrewsbury Tn: (probable) Howie, Moss, Challis, Walton, Tinson, Lowe, Smith, Edwards, Aiston, Rodgers, Grant. Subs: Hart, Street, Whitehead, Cramb, Tolley.