WILL Vaulks reckons Oxford United’s pre-season clash at home to Premier League side Southampton will be a good benchmark for the team.

The Saints won promotion straight back to the top flight after beating Leeds United in last season’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final.

Russell Martin’s team visit Grenoble Road tomorrow evening, before Serie B outfit Palermo are welcomed to the Kassam Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

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Former Sheffield Wednesday midfielder Vaulks said: “They are important games. I played against Southampton twice in the Championship last season and they’ll be tough opponents.

“I don’t expect us to have much of the ball, and that’s not me being critical of us because Southampton were one of the top teams in the Championship.

“It will be a really important test for those of our players who haven’t played at Championship level.

“We will have to learn how to withstand pressure from teams like that, and then punish the opposition on the counter.

“And when you win the ball, you have to keep it. We need the challenges against teams like Southampton and Palermo to test ourselves at a higher level and see where we can improve.”

After the friendlies against Southampton and Palermo, the U’s begin their Championship campaign at home against Norwich City on August 10.