ALL the hype around Worcester City's FA Umbro Trophy fifth round tie at Telford United today should not be allowed to distract City from their main aim this season.

The prospect of a final at Wembley is a mouthwatering one, but that will count for nothing if City lose their league form and end up being relegated from the Dr Martens League Premier Division.

Such is the topsy-turvy nature of the struggle at the bottom that City could yet be travelling to Clevedon Town for their last game on May 6 needing a result to ensure their survival.

City may be a comfortable 13th in the table, but only three points separate them from 19th-placed Crawley Town, who are in the drop zone.

Today's Trophy tie means they could find themselves back where they started by the time another crucial home clash with Cambridge City comes around on Monday -- Trophy replay permitting.

In the last six weeks, City have climbed from 18th to as high as 12th and dropped back to 18th again before Monday's 2-1 win over Merthyr Tydfil lifted them back up five places!

And if they hadn't won eight of their last 12 league games since John Barton's appointment, they would have been virtually dead and buried by now.

Looking at the table, it seems there is now only one relegation place to play for.

Bottom two Atherstone United and Rothwell Town look dead and buried, while Grantham Town have a lot of ground to make up although their form has improved recently.

But it's much tighter above those three -- so while a good run of results could make any one of the next seven teams safe, a run of defeats could plunge them into real danger.

City have knuckled down to the task well and have used their Trophy victories to their advantage rather than to their detriment.

Their recent form is as good as several of the title contenders.

But they still have runaway leaders Boston United to play twice -- they travel to York Street next Saturday -- and must also visit second-placed Bath City, which could knock them back again.

However, they rose to the occasion in a massive game against Merthyr on Monday, and if they continue to do that in the crucial games still to come, then they should be able to celebrate -- possibly on more than one front -- come May 6.