WORCESTER City defender Jamie Smith faces a minimum of two weeks on the sidelines following an assessment of his long-standing neck problem.

The Worcester-born-and-bred left-back had an MRI scan on the complaint with the verdict unwelcome for City ahead of tomorrow's trip to Midland Football League (MFL) leaders and heavyweights Ilkeston Town (3pm) and home clash with Coventry Sphinx seven days later.

“Jamie has been to see a neck specialist after struggling and has been told not to play for the next two weeks,” said Snape.

“It is an ongoing problem that has caught up with him lately, it has been giving him a lot of grief.

“It is a massive blow because he gives us a natural balance down the left-hand side.”

Smith is joined in the treatment room by Joel Caines and James Baldwin, both of whom have ankle problems but fleet-footed frontrunner Jamal Lawrence may be fit to return from a similar issue subject to coming through training unscathed.

“Joel was outstanding at Studley and was one of our better players on Saturday (against South Normanton), his absence will be a blow,” added Snape.

“James has been out for a couple of weeks now, the ankle has come down and we hope to see him back in training soon but I feel he needs a proper assessment because this is the third time this has occurred.”

The absences pave the way for Ethan Moran, recently dual registered with Malvern Town, to come back into contention for a clash Snape acknowledged City would need to win to stand a chance of reeling in the table-toppers.

Ilkeston have been top of the pile since October 23 and despite suffering a four-match winless run in December still hold a six-point cushion.

City eased to a 3-0 victory in the reverse fixture at the Victoria Ground but faltered after that, slipping into mid-table before seven points from the past three matches and a 5-0 MFL Cup win at Studley reinvigorated the campaign.

“We will go there to play good football and to win,” said Snape.

“It is a nice pitch there and we will play the right lads to suit our game plan. The idea is to get three points in the same way we did at home.

“Ilkeston have a lot of power and quality, we know that, but as results continue to show this league is so unpredictable.

“One week you think certain teams are on a good run, the next they get turned over in a game everyone expects them to win.

“It is competitive throughout and the fact Ilkeston have that bit of a cushion at the top despite one or two slips proves that.”