JOEL Caines and Sam Gilder gave Worcester City assistant boss Ashley Vincent food for thought in midweek ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Walsall Wood (3pm).

Caines had made one substitute appearance in September before completing the full 90 in Tuesday’s 3-1 Midland Football League Cup success at FC Stratford.

The ex-Stourport Swifts full-back has also been utilised in midfield since his summer transfer with Vincent acknowledging his presence in the anchoring role has been missed of late.

Goalkeeper Gilder, recently recruited from Bishop’s Cleeve, made his first senior start for City having turned out once for the reserves and comes into contention at the ML Safety Stadium.

“We wanted Cainesy out there because he does a really good job of shutting things out in midfield, holding his position really well,” said Vincent.

“In the past three games we have been concerned about people breaking on us through the middle and that is not as easy to do when he is in there.

“That was a big benefit on Tuesday, as was Sam Gilder getting some minutes. He might not have had a lot to do but communicated well and would have got a boost from playing a first-team game.

“Those two had not had much game time recently and that was a positive.”

Rested trio Jordan Stoddart, George Forsyth and Jordan Harrison come back into the reckoning.

Defender Jamie Smith is likely to return from the head injury sustained at Wolverhampton Sporting Community a fortnight ago, while player-coach Mat Birley’s inclusion will be the subject of a fitness test.

“We picked up a couple of knocks on Tuesday but we’re hopeful they’re not too serious,” Vincent added.

“Birls had a sore calf having come off on Saturday and that’s something we will assess. He isn’t ruled out and we hope to have him fit because he gives us experience and knowhow.”

MFL Division One champions Walsall Wood are among the favourites to challenge this season having recruited many players with pedigree at higher levels.

Wood knocked City out of the FA Cup on penalties following two keenly-contested ties but there could be a different look to the opposition this time.

Last Saturday's team against Coventry United showed eight changes from the replay at the Victoria Ground on August 14, although Vincent expects the style to be similar.

“The test will be very much the same as when we last faced them,” he said.

“They have a good side and it will be tough, regardless of their resources or turnover of players.

“The two cup games were very close against a strong, physical unit and we will have to come up a plan to get the right result.”