Oxford United visit Stevenage Borough this evening in a game that could (but probably won't) have a vital say in the Conference title race. Borough sit atop the table, five points clear of second-placed United and third-placed Luton Town, who visit Broadhall Way on Saturday. Stevenage are without doubt the form team, having won their last seven Conference games and remaining unbeaten in their last ten matches overall, including a two-legged FA Trophy semi-final win over Kidderminster Harriers. Oxford, on the other hand, won for the first time in six games thanks to Matt Green's injury-time goal against Gateshead on Saturday. Could that last-gasp winner be the spark to reignite United's fire, or could it be a flash in the pan? We will refrain from mentioning that Stevenage have never beaten Oxford, for fear of jinxing the result.

Oxford have no new injury worries going into tonight's game. Adam Murray remains sidelined, while Damian Batt serves the second of his two-game suspension. It is difficult to see Chris Wilder making too many changes to the side that beat Gateshead, although Chris Hargreaves is almost certain to return to the midfield, probably in place of Lewis Chalmers. Matt Green's goal could be enough to earn him a place in the starting eleven, probably at Alfie Potter's or Sam Deering's expense, but all three of those players could also be used as impact substitutes, so who knows? There may even be a recall for Jack Midson, given Stevenage's aerial ability, but maybe he's now been frozen out for too long.

Stevenage report a fully fit squad to choose from for tonight's encounter, which means Oxford will have to guard against the pace of former-U Yemi Odubade, who appears to have added an end-product to his attribute of pace. They also boast another ex-U in Tim Sills, while Jon Ashton in defence has captured some of the form that made United sign him from Leicester City all those years ago. Eddie Odhiambo, meanwhile, rarely gets a look in.

Oxford know that they will have to improve upon recent performances and get back to how they were playing before the winter weather disrupted their season if they are to get anything out of tonight's game. Stevenage, on the other hand, can go into this evening fixture's in a relatively relaxed frame of mind, knowing that they have a five-point cushion and games are running out as the season draws to a close. Tonight's referee is Steve Creighton, who has done Oxford no favours in the past (although he's not done United any particular disservice either, being a typically impartial chap). With Luton hosting Salisbury City this evening, Oxford could find themselves dropping to third in the table even if they win, so getting something out of the game becomes rather vital. Fourth-placed Rushden & Diamonds visit sixth-placed Kettering Town in a Northants play-off chasing derby, while York City will be expecting to pick up maximum points on their trip to Grays Athletic. In last night's match, Barrow and Histon fought out a goalless draw at Holker Street. [@opponent]stevenage borough[/@opponent][@connection]stevenage borough[/@connection]