JOSH Ruffels has extra incentive to ensure Oxford United continue their strong finish – because he knows exactly what impact the momentum can have on next season.

Karl Robinson’s side are on an eight-game unbeaten league run, the longest since the end of the 2014/15 campaign.

Ruffels was part of that group, whose final sprint lifted the mood of a struggling campaign and formed the foundations for their promotion 12 months later.

“It’s quite weird how it’s similar in that sense” he said.

“If we can keep the core squad together we’ve definitely got a chance.

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“There’s a buzz about the place and you look forward to coming back when you’ve had such a good run of form at the end of the season.

“It can only bode well when you come back in.

“It’s just a shame we left it too late in the sense that we couldn’t get near the play-offs.”

United still have two games remaining this season, beginning with their final home fixture against Doncaster Rovers.

The visitors’ midweek home defeat to Accrington Stanley loosened their grip on the final play-off spot in Sky Bet League One slightly.

A win tomorrow might be enough to secure their position, but United have developed a taste for taking on the division’s top-six sides, especially at the Kassam Stadium.

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Since Luton Town’s last-gasp win in October, Robinson’s men have beaten Charlton Athletic and Portsmouth, plus drawn with Sunderland and Barnsley.

The success against the Addicks on Good Friday is still fresh in the mind and Ruffels is gunning for another scalp.

He said: “We can all gain some confidence from the way we’ve been playing and we’ve got some great results against the top six teams.

“It’s been an impressive second half to the season and one we’ve all enjoyed. Hopefully we can carry it on in the final home game.”

Ruffels will be fresh, having been rested for Monday’s 3-2 win against Shrewsbury Town.

And the identity of tomorrow’s visitors have added to his anticipation.

The left back salvaged a point away to Rovers with a late strike in December, a year after another stoppage-time strike against them in the last visit to the Kassam.

He said: “I quite enjoy playing against Doncaster.

“I don’t know why it happens, but it seems to be the sort of team I can score against.

“So in the 94th minute, get the ball to me.”