Tomorrow evening Oxford United will know whether their season is over or if they still have one last chance to secure promotion back to the Football League. They go into the home leg of the play-off semi-final against Rushden & Diamonds with the game finely poised at 1-1, after James Constable had given United the lead at Nene Park on Thursday. At that game Oxford supporters comprised over half the crowd, but that won't be the case on Bank Holiday Monday, with approximately 11,000 United fans and about ten per cent of that number supporting Rushden to form a new Conference record crowd for a non-play-off final.

After Thursday's game United have no new injury worries, with Jack Midson and Matt Green both having recovered from knocks received in that match. Oxford started on the front foot on Thursday, Chris Wilder having chosen an attacking line-up with Midson and Green partnering Constable up front. Wilder is likely to choose the same starting line-up, although he may bring in Alfie Potter or Sam Deering instead of one of Constable's strike partners.

In head-to-head meetings Oxford have won seven times to Rushden's six, with five matches drawn. The last two meetings, both at Nene Park, have ended 1-1, but Oxford won the previous four games and Rushden the four before those. Considering Rushden's relative lack of history, having been formed from a merger of Irthlingborough Diamonds and Rushden Town in 1992, there have been a large number of players to have featured for both sides. These include United's back-up goalkeeper Billy Turley and Jamie Cook, and current Diamonds players Craig Farrell, Jefferson Louis, Rob Wolleaston, and Michael Corcoran, who should be fit to play tomorrow after missing the first leg with a hamstring injury.

The only other time United were in the play-offs they were eliminated on penalties at this stage by Exeter City in 2007, despite holding a 1-0 first-leg lead. With Turley and Chris Hargreaves remaining in Oxford's squad from that game, they will be keen to ensure that there is no repeat and that it will be Oxford who qualify for the final at Wembley on 16 May. [@news]2711[/@news][@opponent]rushden & diamonds[/@opponent][@connection]rushden & diamonds[/@connection]