Michael Appleton sees the visit of Mansfield Town tonight as an opportunity for Oxford United to further cement a place in the top three.

United occupy the final automatic promotion spot in Sky Bet League Two and are four points clear of Bristol Rovers and the Stags.

The U’s head coach said: “It is an opportunity to take points off teams that are around us and three points is all we are thinking about.”

Ryan Taylor (groin) is United’s only absentee.

Former Oxford striker Matt Green is set to return for Mansfield after serving a one-game suspension in the 2-1 win over Morecambe.

Manager Adam Murray, a former Oxford captain, hopes to avoid a touchline ban after being sent off at the weekend.

Oxford United: Slocombe, Kenny, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, O’Dowda, Roofe, Hylton, Maguire, Buchel, Bowery, Ruffels, Ismail, Dunkley, Evans.

Mansfield: Shearer, Collins, Pearce, Tafazolli, Benning, McGuire, Clements, Baxendale, Blair, Green, Beardsley, Jensen, Chapman, Westcarr, Lambe, Thomas, Yussuf, Alfei.