GARETH Ainsworth believes his Wycombe Wanderers side will need to be at their best to beat a “dangerous animal” in Oxford United.

The Chairboys go into the Good Friday meeting at Adams Park 28 points and 13 places better off than the U’s in the Sky Bet League Two table.

It means while the visitors need points to confirm their safety, Wycombe are closing in on automatic promotion.

Ainsworth is full of respect for U’s head coach Michael Appleton, who he believes is beginning to settle on the right formula.

  • Latest United news:

The Wycombe boss told the Bucks Free Press: “He’s a good guy and he seems to have gone through a lot of players this year, but he seems to have found a formation he’s happy with and personnel he’s happy with, so we’re going to have to be on it.

“They won last week against Carlisle, albeit a team that are struggling, and I think they’re a dangerous animal.”

While it remains a long way behind United’s rivalry with Swindon Town, the regular fixtures with Wycombe have become increasingly intense.

Ainsworth said: “I know Oxford have other ideas on who their rivals are and so do Wycombe.

“But let’s be honest, it’s two clubs in close proximity to each other playing on a bank holiday and it’s going to be a good day.

“It will be a good game, I look forward to it but there’s no more magnitude on it than any other game."