WORCESTER City's much-vaunted title credentials will get their first serious test with the visit of Havant & Waterlooville tomorrow (3pm).

If City are to pinch an opening day Dr Martens Premier Division victory then one of a clutch of potential match-winners including Leon Kelly, Adam Wilde, Mark Owen and Darren Middleton will need to stump up with the goods.

Havant's hopes are spearheaded by ex-AFC Bournemouth striker Chukki Eribenne and the ever-threatening James Taylor, winner of last year's Golden Boot award.

City, looking to improve on last year's sixth spot and challenge for the title, appear in better shape than at any time during John Barton's reign but the absence of the suspended Carl Heeley and Paul Carty (on matrimonial duty) has weakened them defensively.

However summer signing Barry Woolley will be looking to impose himself at the back alongside Jon Holloway.

City's assistant manager Mick Tuohy is anticipating a lively encounter and one that should be pleasing on the eye.

"Havant always play good football and are a flair side, capable on their day, of upsetting any team in the league," he said.

"Perhaps they underachieved in the league last season but they made up for it with their FA Trophy exploits which took them to the semi-final," he added.

Havant finished two places adrift of City last season but underlined their threat with the third highest goals tally.

City will need some fine-tuning at the back to snuff out that threat, according to Tuohy.

"We've had some encouraging performances going forward but we need a little bit of tinkering defensively to ensure we don't go into games needing to score two or three goals every time to win," he said.

The Hawks, bracketed along with Worcester as one of the better sides in the league, have been boosted by the arrival of Eribenne.

He was a youth player at Coventry City when joint Hawks boss Liam Daish played there before signing for Bournemouth, and the striker also had a loan spell at Hereford United last season.

Havant's management duo of Mick Jenkins and Daish have also added ex-Tottenham midfielder David Howells to their squad and he is expected to jet in from coaching soccer schools in Spain to play some part in tomorrow's game.

During an extensive league career with Spurs spanning 13 years, Howells notched up more than 300 appearances before joining Southampton in June 1998.

Troubled by a lengthy knee injury while with the Saints, he also spent some time on loan at Bristol City before retiring from the professional game in 2000.

FORMCAST: City off to a winner with a 2-1 success.