OXFORD United's players will be told in no uncertain terms by their manager that there must be no let-up in intensity at bottom club Lewes today.

Having won over so many fans, and showed they can climb away from the bottom of the table by beating Cambridge 3-1 in midweek, the last thing they want is to come out of the Dripping Pan and into the fire.

Manager Darren Patterson said: "All the good work of Tuesday night can be undone if weare not spot-on at Lewes.

"We're not good enough, as players, and management staff, to switch it on and off and think we can get away with it. We have to be bang on in every single game.

"I'll leave nobody under any illusions about that. There can be no question of treating Lewes lightly."

The U's believe their win over Cambridge can be the springboard to a good run.

However, they face some testing games in the next fortnight with a home match against Rushden, who are sixth after their 3-0 win at Wrexham, followed by a trip to Torquay, who have won their last four.

United's players will surely have noted, from the graphic in the Oxford Mail yesterday, how Lewes's stamina is open to question. They have not scored a single second-half goal this season!

In contrast, eight of United's 14 goals have come in the final 30 minutes.

So, if they can be patient, and win their battles early in the game, they should be too strong for their part-time opponents by the finish.

Patterson said: "It's all about taking chances in the end. We've been consistent in every other department apart from that before Tuesday, hopefully we can now be consistent in that as well.

"The shape suits us better and we looked a good unit. But on Saturday we've got to do the business.

"When you're top of the table and go away, a draw is often looked upon as a good result.

"But in our position, having had that disappointing start, we're going there having to win.

"I'll take an ugly 1-0-er, with the winner coming in the 96th minute off somebody's backside, rather than us playing well and not winning. I'm fed up with people saying we've played well and lost!"

The U's should be unchanged, though there are slight fitness doubts over Adam Murray, Joe Burnell, Phil Trainer and James Constable.

United fans will be in a different section to where they were two years ago when Oxford visited the Dripping Pan in the FA Trophy.

Away supporters are now housed in an uncovered terrace – though they won't mind that, with the forecast for a glorious sunny day – behind one goal, and turnstiles have been installed there.

The Rooks include Joe Keehan, the manager's son, in midfield.

Lewes: (probable) Banks, Barness, Breach, Mayo, Wallis-Tayler, Standing, Meehan, Geard, Rowland, Taylor, Ga rgan. Subs: Cox, Baidoo, Graves, Elliott, Ruddy.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Clarke, Osborne, Foster, Carruthers, Odubade, Burnell, Murray, Trainer, Constable, Guy, Quinn, Hinchliffe, Haldane, Deering, Evans, Hutchinson, Willmott.