MICHAEL Appleton has hinted he will make fewer changes to the Oxford United side tonight than in the first Emirates FA Cup meeting with Braintree Town.

The head coach swapped five players for the 1-1 draw at the Avanti Stadium earlier this month, which was played on a Sunday.

Appleton was wary about playing three games in six days, but the extra day’s preparation this week means less rotation is required.

He said: “It’s a little bit more of a regular schedule for us this week, the fact it’s Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday.

“I won’t give too much away, but there’s an opportunity there for players to have a good rest from Tuesday before Saturday’s game comes along.”

Jake Wright (back) is still out, while Cameron Gayle and Callum O’Dowda are available if George Baldock and Kemar Roofe, who are both managing knocks, need to be rested.

Mark Phillips (foot) is out for Braintree, while fellow defender Sam Habergham is a doubt with suspected concussion in Saturday’s 6-3 win at Halifax Town.

Oxford Utd: from Buchel, Gayle, Dunkley, Mullins, Skarz, MacDonald, Sercombe, Rose, O’Dowda, Hylton, Hoban, Taylor, Roofe, George, Ruffels, Lundstram, Ashby, Cundy, Slocombe.

Braintree Tn: from Norris, Brundle, Clerima, Paine, Fry, Isaac, Davis, Woodyard, Miles, Cheek, Sparkes, Edgar, Sekajja, Marks, Habergham, List, Walker.