CARL Heeley insists last season's controversial clash at Dover Athletic will have no bearing on today's game at the Hoverspeed Stadium.

Worcester City's captain was dismissed along with Jon Holloway in a fiery encounter that ended 2-1 in the Whites favour.

Heeley's red card for two bookable offences was a rare blemish on his distinguished career but returned to haunt with a three-match ban at the start of the season.

The incident is now forgotten, according to Heeley, who has more pressing matters on his mind as they endeavour to improve a poor record against the better teams in the Dr Martens Premier Division.

"Last year's match is all water under the bridge now, it's not going to have any bearing whatsoever," said Heeley.

"They've hit a bit of form and it's going to be tough but we need a win.

"If we can get three points it won't have been a disastrous holiday period for us but we certainly need something from the game."

"We seem to falter against the same sides year after year against the likes of Dover and Stafford and we need to put that right starting today," he added.

Worcester's defeat to Stafford on New Year's Day leaves them 12 points adrift of leaders Weymouth in eighth place and, bar a minor miracle, out of the reckoning but Heeley admits there's still a lot to play for not least a place in the coveted new Conference set up.

The top 13 teams in the Premier Division will gain automatic entry to a Conference north or south but with John Barton's team only five points from the cut off point of 14th it's imperative they begin the new year with some good results.

"We are just looking at one game at a time and we'll see where it takes us," said Heeley.

"The aim obviously is to win the league but that is going to be tough. The minimum we have got to get is qualification for this new Conference set up next-year - that's a must."

Meanwhile off the pitch City's young keeper Shaun Hayes is due to have a knee operation on January 16 to remedy a cartilage problem that has been affecting him.

David Foy is expecting the go ahead to begin training again following surgery on a non-football related groin problem.

Record signing Jai Stanley is already up and running after keyhole surgery on a cartilage tear while left back Kevin Halliday, injured in pre season, has upped his rehabilitation with a March target for a return to action.