IT'S crunch time for Oxford United - with manager Jim Smith urging his side to handle the pressure in tonight's play-off semi-final first leg at Exeter.

o And the U's boss wants his players to show their mettle in front of what is likely to be a noisy, capacity 9,000 crowd at St James Park.

"It will be a hostile atmosphere, I'm sure, but you expect that," Smith said.

"We want to be as positive as we can. We're not good enough to go and sit and defend, so we've got to go and play our normal game."

United go into the match in good form and looking a tight unit.

"The boys have been excellent for a while, in training and in playing," he said.

"But this is a different game. It is without a shadow of a doubt by far the biggest game of the season, and it will be not the best team, but the team that can handle the occasion, goes through."

United travelled down to Devon yesterday morning and trained there yesterday afternoon - with the players still not sure who would lead the attack.

Smith will choose two from Rob Duffy, Chris Zebroski and Yemi Odubade.

There are also five possibles for three central midfield places.

Phil Gilchrist returns to captain the side, while Matt Day takes over as the right-sided centre back because Mickey Corcoran is ineligible, with players' player-of-the-year Barry Quinn adding experience at sweeper.

The loss of Luke Foster to injury is a blow, especially as he could have proved useful at set pieces, and his versatility meant he could have been cover for two or three different positions.

Exeter are at full-strength and name an unchanged line-up from their 2-1 win over Southport on the final day of the season.

But Smith admitted Luke Foster would probably have started as a sub.

"Yes, he would have been on the bench.

"Two of the lads at the back will be ones who have been there virtually all season but Matty Day will come in. He's done well for us wherever he's played, to be honest. He had one little period when he didn't play so well, but overall he's had a realy good season for a young lad, and it will be a test for him.

"Michael Corcoran is unfortunate and Chris Willmott is, and big Georges Santos, and now Luke so centre half's been an unlucky position for us!"

And United's manager hopes that now represents an end to the team's bad fortune.

"At the end of the day you've got to have that bit of luck, but it will be the team that can handle the occasion who will get through."

Exeter City: (probable) Rice, Tully, Todd, Edwards, B Jones, Elam, Taylor, Gill, Carlisle, Stansfield, Logan. Subs: Challinor, Richardson, Phillips, Buckle, P Jones.

Oxford Utd: (from) Turley, Day, Quinn, Gilchrist, Anaclet, Hargreaves, M Foster, Rose, Johnson, Odubade, Duffy, Tardif, Zebroski, Pettefer, Burgess, Robinson, Hutchinson, Brevett.