Oxford United boss Darren Patterson says he is relishing his side's next two home matches - to test how far his new-look side have come.

The U's entertain Cambridge United at the Kassam Stadium tonight, before welcoming Burton on Saturday.

And having won their last two matches in front of their home fans, Patterson wants to see if his side can keep their momentum going.

"I just can't wait for them," he said.

"We are building something here and are getting better and better - and these matches are the ones where you see how far you have come.

"I am as impatient as everybody else - you want things to be sorted now - but it doesn't work like that, it's a gradual thing.

"But I think you can see with the performances we have produced lately that we are getting there, and now we have a chance to prove it."

Patterson's main selection decision revolves around his strikers.

Justin Richards and Craig McAllister (pictured) started at Forest Green on Saturday, with Matt Green on the bench.

But that was McAllister's first start since a hamstring injury, and United's boss must decide whether he can start again just three days later, or whether Green will earn a recall.

"I know my strikers already - but I'm keeping that to myself," he said.

"We're getting people back after injury and it's a big boost to everyone.

"It was always something I was envious of earlier in the season when teams could bring on subs who were of equal quality as the first team. We couldn't do that a while ago, but can now."

United's defence have kept three successive clean sheets, something Luke Foster is all to aware of.

"That's like scoring a goal for a defender, and we'd love to make it four," he said.

"We believe we can get a result against anyone now, and hopefully we can produce a performance that earns us the points."

Cambridge are in third place, with manager Jimmy Quinn claiming after Saturday's 2-0 win at York that they were still going for the title - never mind the play-offs.

"We have momentum at the moment and we are doing all we can to keep the pressure on the leaders," he said.

"If we win ten of our remaining 14 games we could snatch it."

Patterson comes up against his former Northern Ireland international teammate Jimmy Quinn for the first time as manager.

The pair were regular teammates under Bryan Hamilton at international level and Patterson will be keen for his United side to avenge a last-minute defeat at The Abbey Stadium earlier in the season.

There are familiar figures on the pitch for the other U's as well. Danny Brown, Courtney Pitt, Rob Wolleaston and Wayne Hatswell are all former Oxford players.

Dan Gleeson, Mark Peters and Michael Morrison return from suspension for Cambridge.

Oxford Utd: from Turley, Clarke, Quinn, Foster, Howard, Anaclet, Murray, Hand, Blackwood, Richards, McAllister, Green, Semple, Odubade, Day, Hutchinson.

Cambridge Utd: from Potter, Albrighton, Coulson, Hatswell, Gleeson, Corden, Wolleaston, Farrell, Pitt, McEvilly, Boylan, Beesley, Jeffrey, Willmott, Convery, Morrison, Peters.