RECENT history points to a potentially volatile clash at St George's Lane tomorrow when Worcester City entertain Dover Athletic.

But while controversy has dogged their last three encounters, it has also undoubtedly added spice to the fixture.

City for their part will be desperate to avenge what they felt was a blatant off-side winner at the Hoverspeed Stadium, back in January.

Tommy Tyne's goal killed off a brave City challenge but that match proved to be a turning point for John Barton's team who have not lost in the Dr Martens Premier Division since.

Dover will not be easy to beat, suffering just two defeats in their last 11 league matches though they have found winning difficult, notching only two wins in seven, and they have triumphed only twice on their travels all season.

Goalkeeper Paul Hyde, at the centre of an alleged racist slur during last season's game at St George's Lane, made an unsuccessful return to the line-up in midweek when Dover lost 3-0 to Weymouth.

Dover's Danny Chapman was sent off again (he was also dismissed with Jon Holloway and Carl Heeley in the final game of last season) along with Andy Arnott, suggesting discipline could be a factor tomorrow.

City striker Mark Owen, back to full fitness after shaking off a virus, is eyeing a victory, with the memory of Tyne's winner still fresh in the memory.

"I think it is a winnable game. We didn't deserve to lose in Dover and were beaten by the referee," said Owen.

"We did ever so well, made a few changes with Liam McDonald coming in and proving what a good player he is.

"That performance marked a turn around for us and we followed it up by winning at Newport and have improved steadily since.

"We've had a few setbacks like everyone does but we're making progress."

Owen himself is making great strides since his return to the side and with the goals flowing, believes he's close to recapturing his best form.

"I'm really enjoying my football. At the start of the season I was getting there, then I was out of the team.

"But since I've been put back in, I'm much closer, in terms of fitness, to what I was before I broke my leg," he said.

Owen is gunning for more success tomorrow but, despite City's seven-match unbeaten run in the league, acknowledges there's no room for resting on any laurels.

"If we approach the game as we have recent ones we can get a result but we need to be a bit more consistent than we were against Halesowen the other night," he said.

"We were unlucky against Cambridge City, when we were virtually camped in their half for most of the second half, but we've got to win our home games to put us back in the hunt."

FORMCAST: City can exact revenge with a 2-1 win.