WORCESTER City boss John Barton has billed tonight's home clash against Merthyr Tydfil (7.45) as their most important game of the season so far.

Saturday's 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville pushed City back down to 18th place in the Dr Martens League Premier Division, and only goal difference now keeps them out of the relegation zone.

Defeat against fellow strugglers Merthyr tonight would seriously weaken their position, leaving them level on points with improving Crawley having played the same number of games.

However, it is so tight in the lower reaches of the table that victory would lift them up five places.

Barton said: "I thought the Clevedon game was the most important at the time, but as fixtures move on then every one takes on a different type of importance.

"Your next game is always your most important, but because of the situation we are in, the significance of tonight is there for all to see."

The return of Sam Bowen up front against his former club after a one-match suspension will boost City's hopes, having failed to score in their last three matches despite creating a host of chances.

Bowen is added to the squad on duty for Saturday's game, with defender Carl Heeley likely to miss out again as he is still suffering from a shoulder injury sustained against Bath last week.

Barton is likely to revert to a 4-4-2 formation, having played with only top scorer Mark Owen up front for most of Saturday's game.

"With the recent run where goals have flowed fairly regularly, they have dried up in the last three games," said the Worcester manager.

"The best confidence booster for any team and individuals is scoring goals.

"It is not through the players' recent efforts that we are where we are in the table - it is down to what happened earlier in the season. Back-to-back victories would help, and we have three very important Monday nights coming up."

Tonight is the first of three successive Monday home games for City against sides around them in the table.

Cambridge City and Halesowen Town follow in the next two weeks -- with Saturday's FA Umbro Trophy fifth round trip to Telford United and a league game at runaway leaders Boston in between.

Worcester won 3-0 at Merthyr last month with Owen netting twice.

Worcester (from): Watson, Sandeman, Willetts, Tucker, Weir, Carty, Knight, Cottrill, Bowen, Owen, Lutz, Purdie, Deakin, Jukes, Frost, Upton, Heeley.