Joe Skarz is gunning for Oxford United to finish the job on what they see as the most challenging block of fixtures in the season with a win at Hartlepool United this afternoon.

Head coach Michael Appleton saw November as a critical month for his side’s promotion hopes.

It contained a series of games against sides scrapping in the bottom half of the Sky Bet League Two table, while three cup games, injuries and suspensions would test their resources.

So far United have delivered, beating Stevenage, Cambridge and Dagenham & Redbridge before drawing 1-1 with Newport County on Tuesday night.

The sequence has consolidated the side’s position near the top and, without another league game for a fortnight after today, Skarz is aiming to sign off the month on a high.

He said: “The gaffer said before this five-game block that this was going to be the most challenging block of the season.

“We started really well with the three wins and then the point (against Newport).

“It’s just a case of can we finish this five-game run with the three points to make it a really good month and go into December really looking forward to what’s in store.”

“We’ve managed to come through OK and hopefully we’ll finish it off on Saturday.”

While United were drawing with Newport, Hartlepool were on the way back to County Durham after their game at Accrington Stanley was postponed by a waterlogged pitch.

Although it allowed Ronnie Moore extra time to prepare for today’s match, U’s assistant head coach Derek Fazackerley thinks it is not necessarily an advantage.

He said: “There’s a disadvantage as well.

“Most players if they turn up at a ground they want to play and I’m sure they would be frustrated they didn’t get an opportunity.

“Whether they turn up in a fresher state I’m not sure that comes into it at all at this stage of the season.

“We had a tough game the other night but the players are used to that now.”

New loan signings Chris Maguire and Jordan Evans will be in the United squad for the first time.

Jake Wright (back) and Ryan Taylor (groin) will miss out, while Danny Hylton should have recovered from the stomach cramps which forced him off on Tuesday to be available.

Hartlepool have full back Michael Duckworth fit again, but ex-United defender Harry Worley (ankle) and striker Billy Paynter (Achilles) are both long-term absentees.

Hartlepool Utd: from Carson, Duckworth, Bates, Jackson, Carroll, Oates, Gray, Magnay, Naismith, Mandron, Bingham, Oyenuga, Harrison, Fenwick, Smith, Featherstone, Walker, Jones, Bartlett.

Oxford Utd: from Buchel, Baldock, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Lundstram, O’Dowda, Roofe, Hylton, Hoban, Maguire, George, Ruffels, Rose, Evans, Long, Slocombe.