PAUL Caddis can sense the calm ready for the storm that City must ride.

The survival clock is ticking with only nine games to go to save their League One status.

This weekend’s trip to Oxford is the first of five in the run-in against teams also locked in the frantic fight to beat the drop.

READ MORE: City run leaders Luton close

But as they prepare to face the side currently four points above them in 21st spot, Caddis sees no indication of any nerves around the place.

And he credits new boss Gary Bowyer’s influence for the cool manner in the squad.

Caddis said: “It’s still pretty calm in the dressing room. The manager has come in and lifted the place, if I’m honest.

“He’s been good. He’s been lively, he’s a good character and the players have taken to him right away.

“He’s got a very positive mindset and wants to play football the right way so everybody is enjoying it.”

With Kelvin Mellor out again for the next few weeks, Caddis has regained his grip on the right-back slot after being benched for Bowyer’s dug-out debut against Peterborough.

The experienced Scot was encouraged with how City handled Luton in midweek and his enthusiasm for the crunch clash at the Kassam Stadium has not been dampened by losing to the leaders.

“I thought we competed well and had a go at them,” he added. “We felt we were well in the game for long spells but unfortunately didn’t get anything out of it.

“The conditions weren’t great and the pitch was cutting up but I thought we played some good stuff.

“We kept the ball well, moved it pretty quickly across the park and got into half-decent positions. We didn’t really hurt them much but our shape was good and in terms of the performance, there was a lot to be positive about.

“We’ll analyse the game and take it into Oxford but everyone is feeling positive.

“Every game takes care of itself, they are all different. We go into each one trying to win, regardless of who it is, and you saw that the other night.”

Oxford have taken points off Barnsley, Sunderland and Portsmouth at home since the turn of the year. Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at fellow basement-dwellers Rochdale put them level on points with Shrewsbury, who are immediately above the relegation line.

Caddis said: “The gap (to safety) is still the same, which is good. But we need to look after Bradford City and not worry about anyone else.

“We’ve got nine games left and you can guarantee the manager will make sure we have a go in every single one of them. We’ll try and take three points no matter who we’re up against.

“This is a big game but they all are now. We’ll listen to how the manager wants us to play and hopefully it’s good enough to get three points.

“I’m sure there will be quite a few of our fans going. That doesn’t surprise me because they are forever out in their numbers and we appreciate that.

“Fair play to them the other night because the weather was horrible and they still came out to back us.

“The manager has got everybody feeling a little bit more upbeat and we’re looking forward to this one. We’ve got to try to give them something back.”