Oxford United are “very confident” that their Blue Square Premier game against Tamworth at the Kassam Stadium tomorrow will be ON.

Rising temperatures have greatly improved prospects, and no pitch inspections are planned.

Secretary and general manager Mick Brown said: “Because of the amount of work that was done by everyone in clearing the snow on Tuesday, we haven’t had that much on the pitch.

“It was only the two inches that fell on Tuesday night and during Wednesday, and a lot of that has gone already.

“There are one or two other areas, but there’ll be very little snow that needs taking off.”

And what about those “frozen areas” that have previously been problems, causing the call-offs against Rushden and Woking?

“Everywhere has thawed now and we genuinely don’t see the frost that we have had being a problem,” Brown added.

“We’re very confident Satur-day’s match will be on.”

It will be United’s first home game since December 12, and their first in the league at the Kassam Stadium since Dec-ember 5, when they beat Ebbs-fleet United 4-2.

Since then they have seen their five-point lead over second-placed Stevenage disappear as Graham Westley’s team took advantage of being able to play more matches to go one point clear at the top of the table, though Oxford have three games in hand.

Stevenage visit Wrexham tomorrow, with fans there helping to clear the Racecourse Ground pitch of snow.

U’s manager Chris Wilder says everyone is itching to get going again.

“We’re fit, we’ve got players fit and the players look hungry and eager to play,” he said.

“This has given the likes of Damian Batt time to get right, and he’s not a million miles away now.”

There could be debuts for new left-sided centre half Jake Wright, and new left back Anthony Tonkin.

Wright, signed from Brighton until the end of the season, believes he can add balance to the centre of defence, though he was not counting his chickens about starting.

He said: “It’s not like I’m coming into a team that’s been losing – I may have to wait for my chance and then take it.”

Asked what he felt his attributes were, Wright said: “I think I read the game quite well, have got good pace, am decent in the tackle, and all right in the air.

“I’m used to playing left centre half and think it’s a big advantage having a balanced defence. I like to pass the ball and hopefully that’s what I’ll bring to the club.”

l Big Match preview: P54-55