ANDY Preece wants his side to make the most of their next two games as they look to close in on the Nationwide North play-off places.

Worcester City visit Scarborough on Saturday before hosting Vauxhall Motors at St George's Lane on Monday night.

Preece said: "If we can take all six points we are going to be in the picture and within touching distance of the play-offs depending on other results.

"Scarborough is a hard enough game on its own. We are trying to get a good positive result and make our game in hand count. When teams don't play we have to make that count.

"What we do will decide where we finish. We have got to focus and get ready for a big month."

With City captain Des Lyttle fit again following illness, fellow defender Chris Smith is the only player ruled out as he completes his two-match suspension for 10 bookings.

Dennis Pearce and Shabir Khan are in line to replace him but Danny Hodnett, who stepped in for Lyttle at the last minute at Welling, could be recalled from Gloucester again.

Preece said: "I felt Danny Hodnett had a good game, he always does. He never lets us down but Des Lyttle has been consistent for us this season."

Scarborough, handed a 10-point penalty at the start of the season for going into administration, have won three of their last five games, including a victory at Harrogate and a draw with Kettering.

Preece said: "They are a good, hard-working side. I think they are looking at the 10-point deduction as a springboard to a positive that if they can survive that would be a hell of an achievement.

"They are only four points from safety. They have had two great results against Harrogate and Kettering and they have a good work ethic.

"Their players have League and Conference experience. They haven't got a big squad but if they can put their best 11 out it's as good an 11 as there is in the league."

The North Yorkshire side, who lost 3-2 at St George's Lane in November when Craig Wilding hit a hat-trick, are beset with player problems and are only likely to have one sub for the match.

Jimmy Beadle starts the first of a two-game ban for 10 bookings, while fellow midfielder Jamie Vermiglio is ruled out with a long-term ankle injury.

Striker Lee Whittington has a broken foot and defender Sean Davies is expected to miss out after picking up a mouth injury in the 1-1 draw with Kettering.

City, due to travel tomorrow, arranged to train on Wednesday after seeing the weather forecast for Thursday and having their reserve match against Stafford called off.

Several first-team players were set to start that game.