JOSH Ruffels knows keeping a fired-up Chris Maguire quiet will be key to Oxford United beating rock-bottom Bury this afternoon.

The Scot was United’s top-scorer last season with 17 goals, but since moving to the Shakers last summer he has struggled to replicate the same form.

The exception came in the reverse fixture in September, when he ran the game and scored a penalty which set up a 3-0 victory.

Maguire has netted in only one other game all season, but Ruffels is well aware the forward will relish being the centre of attention today.

He said: “They dominated that game, so we can’t let that happen.

“We’ve got to make sure Maguire stays quiet, because he ran rings (round us).

“I think he’ll love coming back to the Kassam.

“He loves to wind the crowd up and he will embrace it all on Saturday.”

New Bury boss Ryan Lowe takes over the reins with the Shakers 12 points from safety and without even a goal in their last eight Sky Bet League One outings.

United will be expected to win, but boss Pep Clotet believes his side will need all the help they can get from the home crowd to beat an expensively-assembled line-up.

He said: “I understand people will look at the table.

“But we couldn’t compete with Bury to get the players in the summer.

“They managed to get a good team, but for whatever reason they have found themselves down there.

“I think everyone should expect nothing from this game and come to the Kassam to get behind the team and help us fight for these three points.

“It will not be easy – they have a new manager.

“So it will be an intense game with plenty of hard moments. We need everyone helping.”

Ricardinho completes his three-game suspension and Ryan Ledson is a doubt (virus).

Jack Payne’s recall means Clotet will have to make one enforced change from the 2-1 defeat at Walsall.

TODAY’S LINE-UPS

Oxford Utd: from Eastwood, Carroll, Martin, Mousinho, Tiendalli, Henry, Ruffels, Mowatt, Van Kessel, Thomas, Obika, Mehmeti, Napa, Buckley-Ricketts, Brannagan, Xemi, Dickie, Williamson, Shearer.

Bury: from Ripley, Leigh, Skarz, Cameron, Clarke, Dawson, Mayor, Ismail, Laurent, Hanson, Bunn, Danns, Cooney, Dai, Maguire, Tutte, Edwards, Murphy.