Rushden match-winner Phil Trainer is urging his Oxford United teammates to take their improved home form into their away games as they hit the road to Torquay.

The U's take on the Gulls in South Devon at Plainmoor tonight and then head to Manchester to face Altrincham on Sunday.

And Trainer, one of United's key players who signalled his return to full fitness by smashing a clinching second goal in the 2-1 win over Rushden, said it's time for the U's to deliver away.

"These are two difficult matches. Torquay have been in good form of late, and on Sunday, going to Altrincham is one of those tricky games. We've got to ride above it and Hopefully we can come away with six points."

That's a very optimistic and ambitious target. Torquay are the division's form team with 16 points from the last 18, having hit three second-half goals to see off Stevenage 3-0 last Saturday.

And part-timers Altrincham, having beaten Ebbsfleet 2-0, are above Oxford in the table.

Both James Constable and Barry Quinn were able to train yesterday and look like being fit to play at Plainmoor tonight, provided they don't suffer any reaction.

"Both have done some fitness work and joined in training, so both should be available" said Patterson.

"Torquay are on a terrific run. They made a similar start to us, but all credit to them, they have dug deep and the management staff have managed to turn it around.

"It'll be a tough game, but one we're very much looking forward to. We go there in good heart after a very good performance and result against Rushden."

The team are travelling there and back on the day, but will have lunch and an afternoon rest at the hotel owned by the parents of United midfielder Richard Groves.

Groves isn't in the 16-man squad this time, though, and with a game to prepare for at the weekend, he will not be travelling.

Former U's striker Matt Green was out of favour for Torquay in the first few weeks and with eight new players brought in over the summer taking time to gel, the Plainmoor club suffered four defeats in their first five games, with fans calling for manager Paul Buckle's head.

But all that has changed since September.

Scott Bevan, a 6ft 6 in keeper who, like Oxford's James Constable, used to be at Kidderminster and has signed on loan from Shrewsbury, will continue in goal in the absence of injured Southampton loanee Michael Poke.

And while the U's now have no worries about playing in a televised game, the same cannot be said about Torquay.

They have crashed to two defeats and one draw in their three Setanta games this season, and have managed only one victory – when Chris Zebroski hit a last-minute winner in the first leg of the play-off final semi-final first leg at Exeter – in their last seven Setanta matches.

If James Constable comes through a late test, the U's could pair him with Jamie Guy up front, and move Lewis Haldane to right wing.

That would enable them to use Yemi Odubade as a sub who can come on and cause damage with his pace in the second half.

Torquay: (from) Bevan, Robertson, Nicholson, Mansell, Hargreaves, Carlisle, Woods, Wroe, Green, Sills, D'Sane, Adams, Thompson, Stevens, Hodges, Carayol.

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