THE MATCH: Second-placed East Thurrock travel to lowly Oxford City in a bid to maintain their excellent start to the National League South season.

Rocks are unbeaten after eight matches, while Oxford sit 17 places below them and 11 points worse off having played a game more.

Without a win in their last five, Oxford have been beaten by a single goal in their last three matches and will be determined to edge away from the drop zone with a positive result tomorrow.

John Coventry’s team may also be better rested, after their midweek match against St Albans City was postponed.

Rocks won both encounters against Oxford last season, winning 1-0 and 2-1.

THE INSIGHT: “Oxford will be a difficult proposition,” said Rocks manager Coventry.

“I have been told they were unfortunate not to get something at Bath in the week and we will also be playing on astroturf tomorrow, which is not my favourite.

“Some of the astroturf pitches are slower as there is so much infill with the black rubber balls.

"Teams that play on it regularly get used to it and will know if the ball will or won’t run out of play. It is like that at Aveley’s Parkside ground.

“Forwards can gamble and it is a surface that teams often think they are Barcelona on, as they try to play a bit more.

“Oxford may have adapted and I would expect that.

“We didn’t play in the week, which has allowed us to get some players back, which is obviously positive.”

THE TEAM NEWS: James White and Ben Marlow could return to the squad.