Oxford United's players will relish being the underdogs for a change as they try to spring a major FA Cup shock on Saturday.

Coca-Cola League One side Southend may have more quality on the ball, but under new manager Darren Patterson, the U's have got rid of their "nice-to-play-against" tag and opponents come off the pitch knowing they've been in a tough battle.

Oxford lie 11th in the Blue Square Premier, but Patterson believes they have a real chance of upsetting the odds and defeating the Shrimpers, who are around 50 places higher.

And he's done his homework, getting the most up-to-date information on them.

"We've had Southend watched, I've seen them early season myself and we're grateful to Luton, because they've sent me the video of last week's game, so we know a lot about them," he said.

"It's going to be tough, they're an excellent side, very good going forward, but we'll have our game plan and hopefully what we're trying to do works.

"What I will say is that anybody can beat anybody on any given day, and we'll be going into it in that frame of mind.

"We'll be giving them the respect they deserve and are due but hopefully, on the day, we can pull off a surprise."

Without that weight of expectation that comes in league games, United may just play with a bit more freedom as well.

"At this level we're seen as the big club, like the Newcastle of this level, I suppose, with the size of the stadium," Patterson admitted.

And, being the FA Cup, the team are treating the occasion differently.

Said the U's boss: "We've done it a little bit differently, not in the workload that they do training-wise, but they're suited and booted and we're going out for something to eat after the game, just to make something special of it because it is a special competition.

"It is the best cup competition, bar none, in the world.

"It's exciting for everybody. It will be exciting for the fans, exciting for the players and it's a day we're really looking forward to.

"We're going to be up for it - and if we show the same level of effort and commitment that we have done for these last three games, then we've got a chance."

Patto is annoyed with the three-game ban handed out to midfielder Carl Pettefer, which means he misses facing his old club, but Joel Ledgister hopes to face his former side.

He felt both Pettefer, and Kidderminster's James Constable, should have had their red cards overturned.

"I'm not only disappointed for Carl, I'm angry about the whole decision," he said.

"When you look at the video replays, it's just ridiculous . . . not only Carl's, but their lad's as well.

"But the commission heard five appeals, I think it was, on the day and threw out every one of them, so perhaps they were having a bad day.

"It's just disappointing for Carl because he's done excellently these last three games and obviously against his old club it would have been a big day for him, but unfortunately he has to miss out."