Helen Bleazard’s side last played in the National League Southern Premier Division on January 4, when Jessica Hennessy’s stoppage time header earned them a late point against Hashtag United.
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In the time since, AFC Bournemouth have dropped to third in the league as they have played primarily in cups this year, but they have three games in hand over the two sides above them.
Bournemouth are one point behind second placed Plymouth and five behind league leaders Watford.
They’ll be hoping to close the gap on the Hornets and leapfrog Argyle tonight against fourth-placed Oxford.
AFC Bournemouth Women v Oxford United . (Image: Richard Crease)
Captain Abby Jones is looking forward to returning to league action.
“We haven't played many league games since Christmas,” she told the Daily Echo.
“We've had a few bad runs with the weather and still been in a few cups, so it'll be nice to get back and focus on the league.
“Obviously, last time we played Oxford was at the [Vitality] Stadium, and we managed to beat Oxford 2-1, and that was a brilliant occasion. So hopefully we can do the same again.”
Jones said there has to be a slight shift in mentality when it comes to approaching league games compared with cup matches.
“I think cup games are always different because you have to win, otherwise you're out,” she said.
Abby Jones (Image: Richard Crease)
“I think that's always a good opportunity for people to show their mentality in those games. But now when we focus on the league games, we still have a similar mentality of we must win every game, but we take each game as it comes.
“We never focus too far ahead and I think that's what's really good about our group is that we're definitely just focused on the next game ahead, and hopefully during the game in Oxford, our mentality can come through.”
She continued: “It's tough, obviously, being a few games behind [in the league].
“We're the ones who are chasing things, and that's not on us, that's just how the league goes sometimes, and we know that for the rest of the season, the next couple of months, we've got some really tough fixtures coming up, some of the biggest teams in the league we have to play against.
AFC Bournemouth Women v Oxford United . (Image: Richard Crease)
“Being behind is definitely something that we've spoken about as a team, and the mentality of the team comes with that as well.
“Like I said, we always focus on one game at a time and we never look too far ahead. As long as we win the next game, that's, that's everything that we can do.”
Jones is aware the game may play out in a different way with the nature of the pitches at the Vitality Stadium and Oxford City, and they have made some tactical tweaks accordingly.
“Oxford, we know that's their home ground and they're going to be the ones who are putting up a fight against us,” she said.
“So I think similar to last time, we've made a few tweaks, a few changes on tactics and things like that.
“But as long as we have the mentality to go into the next game as exactly how we would any other game, I think we should be able to get three points.”