MANAGER John Barton is sweating on the fitness of defensive duo Paul Carty and Barry Woolley ahead of Worcester City's clash with Nuneaton tomorrow.

The pair will have late fitness tests with Barton rating Carty the likelier of the two to be fit for this vital Dr Martens Premier Division encounter (3pm).

Left-back Carty has been out for two weeks with a bruised ankle sustained in the 4-0 victory at Newport County, while Woolley suffered a muscle strain on the inside of his thigh in Monday's 2-0 defeat to Moor Green in the Dr Martens League Cup.

Youngster Shabir Khan, who replaced Carty in the Moors game, is also a doubt after taking a kick on the ankle.

If Woolley fails to make the starting line-up, Jon Holloway is set to resume his place alongside Carl Heeley in the heart of the defence.

Midfielder John Snape returns from suspension, while Mark Owen, rested for the Moor Green game, should resume his strike partnership with Leon Kelly.

Third-placed Boro visit St George's Lane tomorrow looking to stay on the heels of the division's leading two sides, Weymouth and Crawley Town, while City cannot afford to drop points in their bid for a strong finish to the season.

It promises to be another tight affair following the sides' back-to-back encounters at the end of September, both ending in triumph for Boro, but with Alan Lewer's team struggling to score goals, City can have every confidence of success.

"Nuneaton will be disappointed in how things have gone for them because, after an electric start to the season, everyone thought we had seen the champions," said Barton.

"However, it has not gone quite to plan for them and it certainly hasn't gone to plan for us since the early weeks of the season.

"Tomorrow is very much about two teams trying to re-establish themselves and we'll need to be up for the task."

Barton will be expecting a more committed display than their tame exit from the League Cup at the hands of Moor Green earlier in the week.

"We will need to be strong all over the pitch, that will be important," he added. "Whatever type of game it is, we would like to think that we can win it."