MARK Shail is poised to make a dramatic return to first team action for Worcester City against lowly Folkestone Invicta at St George's Lane tomorrow (3pm).

The veteran defender has not featured in the Dr Martens Premier Division campaign since limping off in the opening minutes at Crawley back in September.

But with manager John Barton once again by hit by a crippling injury and suspension list the ex-Kidderminster, Bristol City and Yeovil player looks set to start.

Pat Lyons (thigh) and Darren Middleton (groin) are both rated very doubtful while David Holmes is out with a groin injury.

Paul Carty serves the second of a two-match ban and new signing Mitch Counsell is suspended for one match for a sending-off he picked up in his last game for Bishop's Cleeve.

Adam Wilde, fresh from his return from international duty, should start despite not training last night.

Folkestone moved off the bottom of the table last week with their first league victory since August when they beat Chelmsford City 3-2.

City edged a 2-1 victory at Folkestone earlier in the season during their unbeaten start to the campaign.

With dropped points against bottom club Ilkeston and Hinckley already at St George's Lane this season Barton is wary of the threat posed by Neil Cugley's team and has warned his players to be fully focused for the battle.

"We have dropped points against Ilkeston and such like at home this year and we have not shown a high level of conviction against some sides at the wrong end of the table," said Barton.

"We are in a situation where we have got to bounce back from Stafford's defeat last Saturday and players have to prepare for that.

"Regardless of their position Folkestone will keep going right to the end and our players have to be focused.

"At their place Darren Middleton got a late winner but it was one of those days where something went for us. Unfortunately in recent games things have not quite gone for us."