JACK Stevens says Oxford United are itching to show what they are capable of at Ipswich Town.

A win at Portman Road tomorrow could propel the eighth-placed U’s into the Sky Bet League One play-off places for the first time this season.

But United have extra motivation to claim a positive result, after their Papa John’s Trophy semi-final defeat to Tranmere Rovers on Tuesday.

The Sky Bet League Two side took advantage of a poor U’s performance to triumph 2-0 at the Kassam Stadium and secure a trip to Wembley.

Stevens was an unused substitute in midweek, but insists he is just as desperate to put things right.

Sam Winnall: Oxford United ready for 'crunch' period

The goalkeeper said: “There was a lot of honesty in the changing room after the game.

“You could tell everyone was down as it was a great opportunity.

“We pick each other up and we go again, because we’ve got no time to dwell on it.”

He added: “When you have a defeat everyone wants to get back out there and correct things.

“It’s a nice stadium against a good team, so everyone’s excited.

“We’ve got a good group of lads and a mixture of experience and youth.

“Everyone’s on the same mission and even after a negative performance everyone comes in with a smile on their face.”

Tomorrow’s clash is against a side with promotion ambitions of their own.

Ipswich are three points and three places below their opponents but, having played the same number of matches as the U’s, have games in hand on most of the teams above them.

United face five more promotion contenders in the next four weeks and Stevens knows a positive result can dent their rivals’ ambitions.

Karl Robinson: Oxford United are no flat-track bullies

“We all know what we’re capable of,” the 23-year-old said.

“If we turn up and play well we can beat any of the top teams.

“I don’t think we fear anybody.

“We need to pick up points against teams in and around us to get where we want to be.”

While Stevens is aiming for his ninth clean sheet of the season, United will also want a reaction at the other end.

The U’s failed to find the net for the first time in 13 games against Tranmere, but head coach Karl Robinson is confident they can get back on track.

“We just need to take our chances,” he said.

“If you put a striker in front of goal to take a chance on Saturday, you’d want it to be Matty Taylor or Sam Winnall.”