MICHAEL Appleton will again use the Emirates FA Cup as an opportunity to rotate his starting line-up.

The U’s boss made seven changes for the first round tie at Merstham and intends to shuffle the pack again at Macclesfield Town tonight.

He said: “Seven or eight players have had three games in a week and there are two or three who have done ever so well in the cup games and who under different circumstances might find themselves in the team.

“It’s an opportunity for them to try and stake a claim for when we start the league fixtures again.

“It’s something we’ve done in the past, but we certainly won’t be taking the game lightly.”

United are without skipper John Lundstram, who is serving a one-game suspension after picking up five bookings, while loanee Charlie Raglan has again not been given permission to play by parent club Chesterfield.

Macclesfield signed experienced midfielder Richie Wellens this week, but he is cup-tied after playing for Salford City in the competition earlier this season.

TODAY’S SQUADS

Macclesfield Tn: Ross, Halls, Fitzpatrick, Pilkington, McCombe, Hancox, Mackreth, Rowe, James, Whitaker, Holroyd, Brodie, Sampson, Madeley, Roberts, Lewis, Byrne, Root.

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Edwards, Martin, Nelson, Skarz, MacDonald, Rothwell, Ruffels, Johnson, T Roberts, Taylor, Maguire, Hemmings, Hall, Ledson, Dunkley, Welch-Hayes, Buchel.