SELECTION should be difficult for Oxford United tomorrow after two different XIs enjoyed cup success in the last week, but the upcoming opposition makes Michael Appleton’s job more straightforward.

Taking on AFC Wimbledon at Kingsmeadow is a tough assignment.

And while the U’s boss enjoyed the fluent football played in victories against Rotherham United and Scunthorpe United, this is one fixture where grit must be prioritised over flair.

“If anyone’s coming Saturday and expecting a good game of football, I can absolutely 100 per cent assure you, forget it,” Appleton said.

“We know we’re going to have to dig deep and be really competitive, win a lot of second balls.

“If we get the victory we want, we know we won’t be coming off the pitch saying how well we played.

“It will just be about trying to get the three points.”

He added: “We have to pick a certain side to try and deal with that.

“But we also want to make sure we remain a threat.”

United had an unbeaten record against the Dons, until October’s meeting at the Kassam Stadium.

The visitors had the rub of the green, but they were ruthless enough to make the most of it by racing into a 3-0 half-time lead on the way to a 3-1 victory.

Appleton admires the job done by opposite number Neal Ardley and believes when it comes to sides with a direct approach, Wimbledon are as effective as any below the Sky Bet Championship.

But having known what to expect, the display in the reverse fixture was all the more irritating.

He said: “We know how frustrated we were with the first half performance at our place.

“We were better in the second half, but we gave ourselves too much to do.

“I think a lot of things went against us on the day, but it’s a different game at Kingstonian.

“It’s a very tight stadium, the crowd are on top of you and the pitch isn’t particularly great.

“Neal and the guys have been doing it really well for the last few years.

“They have some very physical lads in the team and the front three are very dangerous.

“It’s just that it’s at their place and we know what type of game it’s going to be. “

United will need to be combative, but there should be no shortage of confidence.

The cup victories extended a strong run which now stands at one defeat in 13, which Appleton hopes has given the U’s momentum.

He said: “The most important thing is the players feel it.

“If they do then I know the opposition will.

“They will know what type of mood the players are in, you can tell when you walk out of the tunnel before games if the opposition are in a good frame of mind.

“We are at the minute.”