DEFENDER Tom Sharpe is set to return to Worcester City’s starting 11 to face Curzon Ashton in the FA Trophy third qualifying round tonight (7.45pm).

The 28-year-old centre-back says he is determined to re-establish himself as a City regular and end a “stop-start” spell he has never experienced before.

With Sam Oji ruled out through injury, Sharpe is expected to make his first start in almost two months when City line up at the Tameside Stadium.

After making 38 appearances last term, Sharpe was hailed as ‘Mr Reliable’ by boss Carl Heeley, who named him manager’s player of the year at the end-of-season awards.

However, the former Kidderminster Harriers player has struggled to stay in the team so far this campaign.

“I have never had a spell like this because once I get in the team I usually stay in it,” said Sharpe, who had a run of seven games before work commitments forced him to sit out City’s trip to Boston United in early October.

Since then, Oji formed a solid partnership alongside Graham Hutchison until a torn quad muscle sustained in Worcester’s 3-0 defeat at Salford City last week gave Sharpe another chance to stake his claim.

“It has been a bit stop-start for both me and Sam with injuries and for other reasons,” said Sharpe, who has made 14 appearances this season.

“Now Sam has got injured again it gives me a chance and it’s mine to lose, so hopefully I can put a few games together.”

Sharpe revealed he was handed a starting jersey to play Curzon on Saturday before the match was called off due to a frozen pitch.

Although frustrated by the referee’s decision as he felt the surface was “playable”, he said at least they only had to wait two days to get out on the field.

“It was a bit of a choke to be honest,” he said.

“All the lads went out there and I didn’t think it would be called off. There was one patch that was frozen but apart from that it looked good to go.

“Fortunately, the other match will come around quickly enough and I just hope the manager sticks with the same team and I get the nod.”

Sharpe also wants to go on a long run in the Trophy having previously suffered semi-final heartache with Harriers, losing 5-1 on aggregate to Stevenage Borough in 2010.

“I have not done very well in this competition, so hopefully it can be a bit different this season,” he added.

“It only takes a few wins and you can be at Wembley and not many lads have played there, so it would be nice to go as far as we can.

“Curzon are in our league but they are beatable. We really fancy our chances.”