Oxford United skipper Elliott Moore will relish the opportunity to lead his side out against Norwich City this weekend.

The game marks the U's' first second-tier match in over 25 years, since before the division was renamed the Championship.

He's ensured home fans he and his team-mates will keep their feet on the ground, however, as they embark on a survival mission as significant underdogs.

"I’m very excited and I think I speak for everyone involved with this club [when I say] that it’s the biggest season, certainly since I’ve been here," he said. "It’s exciting, and we can’t wait to get going on Saturday.

"It’s going to be a long season. The 46 games come thick and fast, and it’s about staying calm through the bad times, and also the good times.

"We’ve got to stay level-headed. There are going to be a lot of games, and it’s about taking the positives from each.

"Expectations have changed from previous seasons. I think that suits us. We go into each game, and we know what we can do, and it’s about showing everyone else what we can do.

"We know what everyone thinks. They think we’re the underdogs going into this season. We know the quality that we’ve added with the signings, and we know what we’ve got in the building."

One of those signings is former City winger Przemyslaw Placheta, who joined Des Buckingham's group after Josh Murphy's move to Portsmouth on a free transfer.

Moore says he believes in the club's recruitment work this summer, and expects his new team-mates to rise to the challenge.

"All the signings have brought in quality and definitely squad depth, which is what you need in these 46 massive games," he continued.

"Whoever is out there is definitely going to be able to handle what we’re going to come up against."