Oxford United have their first competitive visit to Salisbury City's Citadel ground tomorrow, as the Us hope to exorcise the ghost of the 1-0 home defeat by Weymouth on Tuesday.[@news]2191[/@news][@opponent]Salisbury City[/@opponent][@connection]Salisbury City[/@connection] With that defeat, United have pretty much blown any faint chance they may have had of challenging for the play offs, so the remainder of the season will be dedicated to shaping the squad, and getting the players playing the kind of football that Darren Patterson will be looking for next season, while hoping for a strong finish to try and plug the supporters' exodus that could cause serious financial problems if it continues. In that respect, there is still plenty to play for this season, and indeed it will now be a priority to get the side to start playing attractive attacking football, which has been sadly absent from the agenda for the last several seasons.

Patto has already cemented the basis of his defence for next season, with goalkeeper Billy Turley and centre back and captain Barry Quinn both signing new contracts that will keep them at Oxford next season, and the season after in Turley's case. With Luke Foster and James Clarke already signed for another year, and Alex Jeannin earning an extension to his contract by playing his 25th league game against Altrincham on Saturday, that will give the side a strong back line on which to build. Clarke is likely to play tomorrow, as Matt Day has a virus. New midfielder Andy Murray has also signed a contract that will keep him at the United Stadium next season, but it is probably the midfield to which Patto's attentions will turn next, as United lack a dedicated wide-left player. They could also do with more fire power, especially after new signing Craig McAllister limped off with a hamstring injury in the Weymouth defeat. He is likely to be out for around three weeks, and so Patto has to decide whether Yemi Odubade will continue to partner Rob Duffy up front, or whether Alex Fisher should be awarded his first start. With Joel Ledgister and Yemi playing so effectively on the wings against Altrincham, and then playing less well in different positions against Weymouth, Patto may well revert to the winning formation.

United beat Salisbury 2-1 at home on 25 September, with goals from Yemi and a Duffy penalty. United fans were less than enamoured with Sarum's over-physical approach, and hopefully at home they will play more football. Salisbury are unbeaten in their last four games, but will be without midfielder Ian Herring after he was sent off in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Rushden & Diamonds. The Whites have signed central defender Ed Asafu-Adjaye on loan from Luton Town, and he is included in their squad for tomorrow. There has been heavy rain in Wiltshire for the last couple of days, and so travelling supporters should keep any eye out for news of any possible postponement, especially given that their Tuesday night Hospital Cup game against Chalke Valley was called off because of a waterlogged pitch. Rage Online reckons that this game has got 0-0 written all over it. So expect a goal-fest then.