TONY James is resigned to Chester City clinching the title but insists Hereford United must keep going to maintain momentum for the play-offs.

The Bulls visit Leigh RMI tomorrow with Chester entertaining Scarborough and requiring victory to lift the Nationwide Conference championship.

Hereford must hope the Seadogs can hold the Blues to a draw to force a title shoot-out at Edgar Street next week when Mark Wright's side visit to bring the curtain down on an exciting Conference campaign.

Graham Turner's side must win at Hilton Park to ensure they can capitalise on any Chester slip up but having lost 1-0 to the Railwaymen in November, James knows underestimating their hosts could be costly.

"The Leigh defeat was one of our home results that was disappointing and it cost us.

"They're down already so we're not sure what form they are going to be in."

Although Shrewsbury held Chester to a goalless draw on Tuesday, United captain James fears that will not be enough.

"Shrewsbury haven't helped us much and I can't really see Chester being held to a draw by Scarborough to be honest," said James.

"We've just got to keep the momentum going into the play-offs. We're playing some good football and even when we've not played well have managed to win some tough games."

The Bulls' nine-match winning run, launched with an astonishing 9-0 win at Dagenham & Redbridge, has been sensational but frustratingly for James, it is still not enough to secure promotion.

"In any other league, a team that produced nine wins on the bounce as we have would be expecting to get promoted with a run like that," he said.

"But with the play-offs it's a totally different ball game and anything can happen.

"If Chester win we'll need to treat next Saturday as just another league game.

"The Chester game will just be an opportunity to keep the run going. But you never know we might have something to play for which would be good otherwise it might be a bit of an anti-climax."

If Hereford are forced into the play-offs, James believes they are well-placed to succeed.

"I haven't got any preference who we play. We've got a decent away record and would expect to get some goals away from home.

"We'll finish second so we'll play the away leg first which is a bonus."

Michael Rose returns from suspension but midfielder Scott Wilis has had his loan deal scrapped following a serious breach of club discipline.

FORMCAST: Bulls to win 2-0.