WORCESTER City's hopes for their highest finish in 18 seasons will be decided in the next 48 hours.

Victories against Bath City at St George's Lane later today and on Monday at Hednesford Town will be crucial in helping City beat the fourth place they achieved in the late 1980s.

One man relishing the trip to Keys Park on Monday is former Pitmen favourite Paul Carty who spent four years at the club and was part of their famous FA Cup team of 1996-97.

"I've got some fantastic memories of my time with Hednesford and people always make me feel welcome there," he added.

"It's been disappointing time for them in the last few years and I think they are still trying to adjust to this level after being relegated from the Conference."

Carty is well-briefed on the Pitmen and identifies Steve Pierce as the main threat to City's ambitions of claiming a Bank Holiday victory.

Worcester's defence, which has shown lapses of late, will come under close scrutiny and Carty knows they will have their work cut out keeping him in check.

City's dip in form prompted a post-match roasting from manager John Barton and Carty is the first to hold his hands up that the team has not been performing well.