OXFORD United are hoping skipper Adam Murray and right winger Alfie Potter can shake off a virus to be available for today’s Blue Square Premier match at home to Eastbourne.

The U’s are already without left back Steven Kinniburgh through suspension after he was red-carded in last week’s 1-0 win at Wrexham.

And midfielder Marcus Kelly is also ruled out because of a toe injury.

Although table-topping United have won their last three games and go in search of a club record sixth successive clean sheet, manager Chris Wilder is probably looking to get Jack Midson, Adam Chapman and Ross Perry involved at some stage because he may need them with matches coming thick and fast, and a lot of travelling next week also likely to take its toll.

The players, who will be in tomorrow to prepare for Tuesday’s match at Mansfield, did have a couple of days off at the start of this week to help them recharge their batteries, with the hope that they come back more refreshed.

Wilder said: “They needed a break – it’s all about the nine-month season.

“I was pleased with them when they came back Tuesday because when you have a couple of days off – and to the common man who has to go and work hard every day that may sound strange – it can take them a couple of hours to get going. But they came back good.

“And they should be feeling good about themselves because they know how well they did the job at Wrexham, but they also know they have to keep doing it if we want this to carry on.

“I was delighted last Saturday because I was looking for the reaction after the Luton game, where we’d put in a tremendous amount of effort, and they were really focused and worked harder than the opposition, and I thought they deserved the win.

“And without them going over the line of being arrogant, I think it will give them confidence that they can go to places like Wrexham, and put on a show and win.

“But now is the time where, with this home game, the pressure is back on us and they’ve got to produce to maintain the position that we’re in.”

Last season the U’s did the double over Borough, which included a 6-3 win at home.

Oxford Utd: (from) Clarke, Batt, Foster, Creighton, Sandwith, Bulman, Murray, Clist, Green, Constable, Cook, Potter, Turley, Chapman, Perry, Midson.

Eastbourne Boro: (from) Jordan, Jenkins, Pullan, Elphick, Brown, Armstrong, Enver-Marum, M Crabb, Weatherstone, Atkin, N Crabb, Baker, Smith, Knowles, Smart, Johnson.