Hereford United will hope to take a bit of new-found confidence into tomorrow's testing Nationwide Conference trip to Northwich Victoria (3pm).

The Bulls ended a five-match winless streak with a fine 2-0 victory over Chester City on New Year's Day.

Director of Football Graham Turner believes fourth-placed United can take some aspects of that performance into tomorrow's game, as they bid to try and claw back their 15-point deficit on runaway leaders Yeovil Town.

He said: "It was a good performance and a good result, and it has given us a big boost. We have had a sticky patch with three points out of 15 prior to the Chester match, and we should have taken a lot more than those three points but it didn't materialise.

"But hopefully the win and the fact that we kept a clean sheet will have done the players the world of good."

Northwich, who drew 0-0 at Edgar Street back in August, struggled for the early part of the season but have been transformed by the arrival of former Ilkeston Town boss Keith Alexander as manager, and despite being 18th in the table will provide stiff opposition.

Turner added: "It will be a tough game. Keith Alexander has got them well-organised and competing, and we know what to expect."

United expect to stick with the side that beat Chester.

Defender Tony James (hamstring) and winger Paul Parry (ankle) are the only notable absentees, along with striker Steve Piearce who has joined Halesowen Town on a month's loan.

Parry has now been ruled out for the rest of the season. The player has undergone an exploratory arthroscopy on the injury, sustained in pre-season and may have to wait up to six weeks for the problem to be re-assessed. It is possible that Parry may have to undergo reconstructive surgery.

Tomorrow's game preludes an important week of cup action for the Bulls.

Second Division Reading visit in the LDV Vans Trophy second round on Tuesday, while next Saturday they entertain Dover Athletic in the FA Umbro Trophy third round.

Hereford (from): Cooksey, Lane, Sturgess, Robinson, Wright, Wall, Clarke, Snape, Elmes, Williams, McIndoe, Quiggin, Baker, Gardiner, Giddings, Rodgerson.