United visit Grays Athletic[@opponent]Grays Athletic[/@opponent] tomorrow as they return to Conference action, following their cup exit at Halifax on Tuesday night. The home game against Grays ended 1-1[@report]269[/@report], with the Essex side taking the lead through Aaron McLean, who has since been signed by Peterborough.[@news]563[/@news] Oxford will be looking to get back on track following their recent dip in form, which has seen them fail to win away from home since beating Cambridge United 3-0, almost three months ago.

Jim Smith will have some new options for his side tomorrow, with new signing Kris Grebis almost certain to make his debut in attack. With Smith likely to return to his favoured 3-5-2 formation, this means that Grebis will probably be partnered by Rob Duffy, with Yemi Odubade and possibly Marvin Robinson both on the bench. Skipper Phil Gilchrist has resumed full training following his injury, received at Exeter on New Year's Day, and he will probably regain his place in defence, alongside Barry Quinn and Georges Santos. Andy Burgess has also recovered from the concussion that he received in the FA Trophy replay against Lewes, but a midfield trio of Burgess, Carl Pettefer, and Danny Rose is lacking a ball winner, and so Burge may be on the bench, with Chris Hargreaves in the middle of the other two. Rufus Brevett will probably get the nod over Gavin Johnson for the left wingback berth, with Eddie Anaclet on the opposite flank. Gareth Tucker will probably be on the bench in place of Chris Tardif, who was injured in the reserves' match against Northampton last Monday.

Since they visited Oxford, Grays have been through two managers, with Frank Gray getting sacked in October, then Andy King took over, following a brief spell when chairman Mike Woodward was in charge. King resigned at the start of January, and Justin Edinburgh has been appointed as his successor. In recent weeks, Grays have suffered even worse form than Oxford, partly because they've lost some significant players. In addition to McLean, striker Michael Kightly has joined Wolves, and Jamie Slabber[@player]Slabber, Jamie[/@player], who spent a month on loan to Oxford, has gone to Stevenage. They have recently brought in two of Weymouth's disintegrating squad, Simon Downer and Abdou El-Kholti, but Downer is injured and won't be in tomorrow's team. Striker Denis Oli is also out. Grays currently have the worst home record in the Conference, they haven't won at the Recreation Ground since they beat Southport 4-0, on 9 September. Given that, this is a game that Oxford really must win, however, we've been Oxford supporters long enough to know better, and we're going to predict a 1-1 draw.

Tomorrow's game could be a good opportunity for United to put some pressure on the Conference leaders, Dagenham & Redbridge, who face a tricky trip to Morecambe, currently sixth in the table. Third-placed York City are also away, at in-form Kidderminster Harriers, while Gravesend & Northfleet, in fourth place, have a difficult trip of their own, visiting eighth-placed Exeter City. Burton Albion are the only side of the top five with a home fixture, welcoming St Albans to the Pirelli Stadium. Weymouth's game at Halifax has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch. United's opponents on Tuesday, Woking, have a home game against Altrincham.