TODAY’S lively clash at Adams Park is the perfect opportunity for Oxford United to kick-start their Sky Bet League One campaign, according to Jamie Mackie.

The U’s have lost five of their seven games in Sky Bet League One and are in urgent need of an upturn in results.

Wycombe Wanderers have also just one league win to their name, but have proved tough to beat after winning promotion last season.

With just 25 miles between the clubs, the meetings tend to be passionate – and with United quickly selling out their allocation, this afternoon will be no exception.

For Mackie, such an occasion is exactly what Karl Robinson’s side need to get themselves going.

“These are much better games to play in,” he said.

“As a professional, you want games where there’s an edge to it. The fans are going to be there in their numbers so close to the pitch.

“It’s a great opportunity for the lads to show that we can play against any opposition and try to get three points.”

“With where we’re at right now we just need to get three points somewhere to breed a bit of confidence in the squad.

“From there hopefully performances get even better.”

As one of the most experienced players in the squad, the 32-year-old knows when the team is at the wrong end of the table it is down to everyone to look at themselves.

And he is well aware a first goal for the club this afternoon would be timely.

He said: “Of course – I haven’t scored yet and it’s something as a forward that you’re there to do.

“I’ll never hide from that responsibility and I’ll make sure I’m in the right places to score.”

While Robinson is back on the touchline today after serving a ban, Jamie Hanson’s suspension keeps him out until next week.

The visitors will be boosted by the return of Gavin Whyte, who will be full of confidence after scored on his Northern Ireland senior debut on Tuesday.

Wycombe are likely to have club captain Matt Bloomfield back in midfield after he missed the 3-2

defeat to Charlton Athletic last weekend with concussion.

But the game is likely to come too soon for Nathan Tyson (hamstring), Adam El-Abd (thigh) and Darius Charles (knee).

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Wycombe Wand: from Allsop, McCarthy, Stewart, Jombati, Jacobson, Gape, Bloomfield, Morris, Mackail-Smith, Akinfenwa, Williams, Onyedinma, Cowan-Hall, Kashket, Bean, Saunders, Harriman, Ma-Kalambay.

Oxford Utd: from Mitchell, Norman, Nelson, Mousinho, Ruffels, Brannagan, Baptiste, Browne, Henry, Holmes, Mackie, Smith, Obika, Whyte, Long, Dickie, Garbutt, Shearer.