OXFORD United may be short on numbers heading into their final pre-season friendly – but Karl Robinson is pleased with the way his side have been performing.

The U’s make the trip to Solihull Moors today with just a week to go until the start of the new Sky Bet League One campaign.

Having faced Championship clubs Queens Park Rangers and Fulham over the past seven days, this afternoon’s fixture with the National League outfit, whose chairman is former United owner Darryl Eales, provides a different test.

U’s boss Robinson expects a more physical encounter and is hoping his side can build on their performances over the last week as they prepare for their opener at Sunderland.

“We’ve looked strong, we’ve looked fit, we’ve looked harder to beat,” he said. “We didn’t concede many chances against Fulham and QPR.

“Two of the three goals were from a corner and a free-kick, so we reduced better teams to fewer chances, which is good.

“The back four are starting to look strong. Easty (Simon Eastwood) is getting fitter and the protection in front of him seems very aggressive and athletic, which I like.

“So from that point of view, from the back moving forward, we look really good.”

Robinson added: “Solihull are different in their style, they have a very clear and precise way of playing which has made them successful.

“Hopefully the pitch will have been watered and it’s a surface that both teams can play on and it will be a perfect game for us.

“I know it will be a very stern test. Fifty per cent of the teams in our league will play the same way (as Solihull), so it’s important we cater for that in pre-season as well.”

Rob Hall could play a role off the bench after returning to training following the knee injury he picked up against Thame United earlier in pre-season.

Mark Sykes is also set to be involved after missing the draw with Fulham, while Gavin Whyte, who has been the subject of speculation regarding interest from Cardiff City, was expected to train yesterday.

United’s hard work to add new faces in time for next Saturday continues, but Marcus Browne became the latest target to move elsewhere, with the winger signing for Middlesbrough last night.

When asked if the U’s would head to Sunderland next week without adding to their squad, Robinson said: “Possibly.”

And, with Premier League clubs still unwilling to make younger players available for loan, United could be waiting a little while longer.

“I can foresee an awful lot of those deals occurring after the first two games,” said Robinson.

“Does that help us right now? We’re probably one of the only teams who doesn’t have that flexibility to have the numbers in the building to do that, but that’s just the way it is.”