Liam Sercombe says Oxford United are fired up to end Portsmouth’s unbeaten start to the season in front of a big crowd at the Kassam Stadium this afternoon.

The U’s are looking to bounce back after losing for the first time in Sky Bet League Two, 1-0 at Northampton a week ago.

More than 8,000 fans are due to watch the game and Sercombe, available again after serving a one-game ban, thinks it is the ideal fixture for Michael Appleton’s men.

He said: “You want a big club to come and you can’t get any bigger than Portsmouth in League Two.

"They are the only unbeaten side in the division now, so it’s the perfect game for us.

“Hopefully we can beat them and take their unbeaten record.”

He added: “People would probably say it’s just another game, but I think they are lying.

“It definitely gives you that extra spring.

“There will be nearly double the fans there, so it will be a massive game. It is about bouncing back, if you can do it straight away that’s a side capable of promotion.”

Sercombe is set to come straight back into the XI, with John Lundstram the most likely to make way.

United could also be boosted by the return to fitness of Kemar Roofe and Johnny Mullins, who both trained on Thursday after shoulder and ankle injuries respectively.

The prospect of two strong sides looking to attack in front of a big, noisy crowd is one United’s players should relish, according to assistant head coach Chris Allen.

He said: “It’s fabulous, I wish I was playing. How can you not perform in an atmosphere like that?

“I know Portsmouth’s fans will sing and hopefully Oxford’s are going to be a lot louder.

“They will come out and play.

“We do better against sides that come at us.”

Portsmouth will be without influential midfielder Gary Roberts (ankle), but Jayden Stockley is available after missing the 3-1 win against Barnet to be at the birth of his daughter.

Oxford Utd: Slocombe, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, Roofe, Sercombe, Rose, O’Dowda, Hylton, Taylor, Hoban, MacDonald, Roberts, Ruffels, Lundstram, Dunkley, Buchel.

Portsmouth: Murphy, Davies, Burgess, Clarke, Stevens, Doyle, Atangana, Bennett, Chaplin, Evans, McGurk, Tubbs, Stockley, Hollands, Tollitt, Naismith, Webster, Jones.