Johnny Mullins is under no illusions of the importance of tomorrow’s match.

After hosting Portsmouth last weekend and with a Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie with Swindon coming up, the Oxford United defender is aware fans will not treat Morecambe as a big game.

But Mullins feels nothing could be further from the truth for the players.

“With Portsmouth and Swindon, the manager’s team talk can be a simple one – ‘look at the huge crowd, just go and do it’,” he said.

“But the Morecambe, York and Accrington games, they are the nitty-gritty ones."

“All those teams have qualities, and we need to make sure we get on top of them and impose ourselves. But we will have to be on top of our game to do that.”

Mullins missed the away games at Bristol Rovers and Northampton Town with an ankle injury, but came back in for the draw with Portsmouth.

Although disappointed by the result, the 29-year-old feels it was a decent result in the bigger scheme of things.

“I think it was vital not to lose back-to-back games, especially after Northampton where it would have been easy to feel a bit sorry for ourselves,” he said.

“I was blowing for ten minutes against Portsmouth, but after that I was fine."

“It’s frustrating to miss any game, and yes, there was a concern I wouldn’t come straight back into the team because Chey (Dunkley) came in and did ever so well.

“But that’s what having a good squad is all about.

“We know we have to be right on top of our game all the time to stay in the team.”