Oxford United boss Chris Wilder insists there can be no stepping off the gas as his in-form team visit relegation-threatened York on Tuesday night.

The U’s continue their bid for a play-off place against opponents who will be fighting for their lives after slipping into the bottom four in the Blue Square Premier with their 1-0 defeat at Grays on Saturday.

“Every game we play now is not straightforward,” Wilder said. “But this is a very big game for us. I’m confident that, if we can win at York, next Saturday should take care of itself when we’re back in front of our own fans.

“But we can’t take the foot off the accelerator. If we do, all the hard work will be wasted.”

United’s boss, whose squad travelled overnight before an intended training session at Leeds United on Tuesday morning, added: “We had to win against Histon on Saturday – it was the biggest game of the season – and we did. We go to York full of confidence and optimism.”

Damian Batt returns from suspension, but striker Craig Farrell is unable to play, following the agreement between the clubs when Oxford signed him from York.

That is likely to mean a reshuffle to the way United started in their last away game at Stevenage, with Batt at right back, Adam Chapman moving into midfield, and Adam Murray supporting top scorer James Constable up front.

The U’s have won four and drawn three of their last seven away matches and are scoring goals freely, having notched 18 in their last seven outings, with Constable bagging nine from the last six games.

York have failed to score in their last four, though they have got through to the FA Trophy final.

Midfielder Simon Rusk is suspended after receiving a red card in the 93rd minute at Grays – an action which infuriated manager Martin Foyle, who is already without top scorer Richard Brodie, who completes a two-match ban.

York City: (from) Ingham, Pejic, Robinson, Parslow, Purkiss, McWilliams, Greaves, Mackin, Brown, Sodje, Russell, Boyes, McBreen, Smith, Mimms.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Batt, Willmott, Foster, Sandwith, Haldane, Chapman, Clist, Nelthorpe, Murray, Constable, Carruthers, Odubade, Hinchliffe, Hutchinson, Day.

OXFORD United’s hopes of reaching the play-offs were dealt another blow on Monday night when Torquay United won 1-0 at leaders Burton Albion.