For the third time in a week, Wycombe face one of the top teams in League One when they entertain Oxford United at Adams Park on Saturday, February 17 in what is being billed as the ‘M40 derby’.

The punishing schedule began with a memorable 5-2 demolition of promotion hopefuls Peterborough United in one of the most exciting and entertaining games seen at Adams Park for a long time.

Wycombe’s fast, attacking brand of football was a joy to behold and with key players like Josh Scowen and Chris Forino close to returning from injury, there is real competition for starting places in Matt Bloomfield’s squad.

The Wanderers boss made four changes for the midweek trip to Bolton Wanderers yet they still created a hatful of chances, but an off night in front of goal cost them dearly as they lost 2-1.

Now the Chairboys face another top-six side in Oxford, who have been in the promotion picture for most of the season, despite their recent form being patchy.

They had lost two and drawn three before a midweek victory over Wigan Athletic.

Wanderers have an excellent record against their near neighbours, unbeaten in the last six meetings with four wins including victories home and away last season.

They met earlier in this campaign in a thriller at the Kassam Stadium which saw referee Seb Stockbridge award three penalties.

Two of them were converted by Wycombe’s Luke Leahy, but he was adjudged to have committed a foul in stoppage time that led to Cameron Branagan scoring from the spot to earn Oxford a 2-2 draw.

Liam Manning was boss of Oxford that day but a month later he was replaced by locally born Des Buckingham, his first managerial role in this country after successful spells coaching in New Zealand, Australia and India.

Buckingham is one of the few coaches in the EFL who never played at a professional level, and he began coaching Oxford’s youth teams when he was still a teenager himself.

A bigger than usual crowd is expected at Adams Park as Wycombe has the chance to put more daylight between themselves and the bottom four.