Oxford United are waiting on the fitness of Billy Turley and Joel Ledgister for tomorrow's first venture into the Setanta Shield - and to see if they will break the competition's rules!

Turley, Ledgister and Danny Rose all missed the midweek FA Trophy replay defeat at Tonbridge due to injury and neither 'keeper Turley (shoulder) nor winger Ledgister (thigh) trained yesterday.

But manager Darren Patterson hopes to have all three available for the Setanta Shield fourth-round tie at Aldershot tomorrow when United, struggling badly to find the net, will take on one of the country's most in-form teams.

The Shots have won their last 11 home games, and have reeled off six straight league victories - home and away - to break clear at the top of the Blue Square Premier.

So it's understandably a game in which Patterson hopes to have the experienced Turley back between the sticks.

Should Turley and Ledgister fail to recover from injury, the U's would have only nine players available who have been in their 16-man squads for the previous two league games - which would be against the Shield's strict regulations.

However, club secretary Mick Brown is confident Oxford would not be penalised were that to happen.

In order to ensure that clubs do not play under-strength teams in this knock-out competition for Blue Square Premier, North and South teams, the Conference board of directors introduced a special rule before the start of the season.

Rule eight of the competition regulations states: 'For all Setanta Shield matches, no fewer than ten of the 16 players named on the teamsheet must have taken part in the club's two previous Football Conference fixtures.

'Any club failing to comply with this requirement will forfeit all Setanta Shield and television fees for the match in which the club has breached this rule, together with any other penalty the board may decide.' Oxford United currenty have 11 players who were in the 16-man squads in their last two league matches - Turley, James Clarke, Barry Quinn, Luke Foster, Alex Jeannin, Eddie Hutchinson, Yemi Odubade, Gary Twigg, Ashley Barnes, Ledgister and Sam Warrell.

But that would drop to nine if Turley and Ledgister are ruled out.

Injuries have forced out players such as Eddie Anaclet and Matt Green, while others missed the first game through injury, but returned for the second.

So on paper, at least, Oxford United could be in danger of forfeiting the £2,500 Setanta Shield prize-money they would be due if they sprung a shock win at the Recreation Ground.

But Brown, United's secretary and general manager, who is also on the Football Conference's board of directors, does not believe they would be penalised.

He said: "The rule is just to try to ensure clubs do not play under-strength teams.

"Clearly, if a club doesn't have players because of injuries and suspensions, that would be taken into consideration."

Patterson said after training yesterday: "We're not sure about Billy at the moment, but we'll know a lot more tomorrow.

"He didn't train today but we're hopeful he'll train on Friday. Danny trained, Joel didn't, but hopefully he will be able to too."

United's manager added: "I can't think of a better game actually, after the disappointment of Tuesday, than playing the top of the league away, with the chance of winning and gaining some confidence before the important Christmas and New Year period."