WORCESTER City boss John Barton has warned his players of the dangers surrounding tomorrow's trip to bottom club Fisher Athletic (3pm).

City will be hot favourites to record their seventh away win of the season in the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

But their task has been made considerably more tricky by the London club's appointment this week of former Millwall boss Keith Stevens as their new manager, which is sure to raise their performance level.

Barton said: "That alone makes the game even more difficult than what it would be normally.

"They have made the appointment in the hope of getting out of the trouble they are in.

"From our point of view attitude and application will be important.

"It is a few years since I have been to Fisher as a player, but from what I can remember it wasn't the most welcome of surroundings. Attitudes and minds will need to be spot on.

"But if your own side's performance is strong enough and good enough, you should still get by."

With a home game against second-from-bottom Dorchester Town to follow on Monday, this weekend represents a golden opportunity for City to strengthen their position.

They could even go back up to third place if results go their way, although they would still have a big gap to make up on leading pair Burton Albion and Margate.

Barton added: "It is a crucial three-game period for us (including last week's 2-0 win over Folkestone), and we want to get past the 40-point mark as quickly as possible.

"It just shows how tight and evenly-contested this league is, the fact that we have a chance to get back into the top four or five and even threaten third spot.

"We have been saying that anybody can take points off anybody else in this league, and that illustrates the dangers of tomorrow's game.

"But we are looking forward to the game and the challenge it represents, and that is the same with every fixture."

City expect to have top scorer Mark Owen fit after going off early in the Folkestone game with a dead leg, although transfer-listed midfielder Paul Carty is doubtful with a calf injury.

The sides last met in the FA Umbro Trophy two seasons ago. City were held to a 1-1 draw away before winning the replay 5-1 at St George's Lane thanks to an Evran Wright hat-trick.

Worcester (from): McDonnell, Davies, Bradley, Tucker, Heeley, Weir, Lutz, Ellis, Owen, Cotter, Cottrill, Tranter, Carty, M. Wyatt, Hyde, Joyce, Scheppel, P. Wyatt, Burrow.