George Baldock believes Oxford United can start looking up the Sky Bet League Two table if they can claim maximum points at home to Hartlepool United tonight.

The U’s have eased nine points clear of the relegation battle thanks to a five-game unbeaten run.

They remain three wins away from guaranteeing their Football League status for next season, but are favourites to claim one of those against rock-bottom Pools.

Full back Baldock will not be taking the visitors, who won 1-0 at Morecambe on Saturday, lightly, but thinks victory would leave United well placed to finish the campaign strongly.

He said: “You don’t look too much at the form table.

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“Things like that go out the window when people are scrapping for their livelihoods.

“That’s what the lads at Hartle - pool are doing and to a certain extent so are the boys here – we’re not out of the (woods) yet.

“We’ve got a lot of points to get from now until the end of the season and push for, dare I say it, the top half of the table rather than looking over our shoulders.

“I think a win (tonight) might start to do that.”

The on-loan defender is also part of a defence whose excellent record was extended with a 0-0 draw against high-flying Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.

United have conceded just once in five games, but Baldock thinks the point will only be viewed as a good one if they beat Hartlepool.

He said: “If we don’t get the victory then points at home aren’t good enough.”

Pools remain in peril six points from safety, despite Saturday’s win.

But U’s boss Michael Appleton has warned anyone expecting a straightforward result for his side to think again.

He said: “It’s going to be as tough as Plymouth, without a shadow of a doubt.”

Baldock and Johnny Mullins are expected to shake off minor knocks sustained on Saturday, so United have no injury concerns.

They are still without top scorer Danny Hylton, who completes his two-game suspension.

TONIGHT’S SQUADS

Oxford Utd: from Clarke, Baldock, Mullins, Wright, Skarz, MacDonald, Collins, Ruffels, O’Dowda, Roofe, Hoban, Roberts, Gnanduillet, Hoskins, Rasulo, Rose, Ashby, Dunkley, Long, Ashdown.

Hartlepool Utd: from Flinders, Jones, Harrison, Mirfin, Austin, Walker, Featherstone, Tshibola, Duckworth, Franks, Bird, Harewood, Jones, Smith, Richards, Hawkins, Holden, Maxted.