Hereford United must do without defender Paul Sturgess for tomorrow's Nationwide Conference trip to lowly Hednesford Town (3pm).

The former Charlton and Millwall defender sits out the trip to Keys Park through a one-match suspension.

Director of Football Graham Turner is yet to decide who will replace him in the starting line-up but says he is considering one or two options.

However, he's going to have to do without both of his first-choice central defenders Tony James and Ian Wright again as neither have shaken off niggling hamstring injuries.

Turner said: "I don't think Tony is quite going to make it. He played 45 minutes for the reserves at Kidderminster the other night and could make it for the FA Trophy replay at Leigh.

"Ian has just started training but is also unlikely to be fit."

Meanwhile, Turner has received an unexpected boost in the form of winger Paul Parry's return to training.

Turner had originally written Parry off for the rest of the season because of a troublesome ankle injury, but his recovery process has gone better than expected.

Turner added: "We have not had the results from the specialist yet, but he is stepping up his training and he could be figuring in first-team contention within the next three weeks."

The Bulls are hoping to step up their quest for third place as they seek a first away Conference win since November, against a side who haven't won at home in the league since mid-September.

But Turner says their lowly position of 20th will make them difficult opponents.

He added: "They are fighting for their lives, so we know it is going to be a tough one.

"We have been very close in some of our recent away matches -- we felt we should have got something out of the games at Northwich and Telford, only to concede late goals.

"Realistically we are out of title contention but we still want to finish as high as we possibly can."

Troubled striker Steve Piearce has signed for a second month on loan at Halesowen Town, although United have an instant recall option.

Hereford (from): Cooksey, Clarke, Robinson, Gardiner, Wall, Rodgerson, Snape, Elmes, Williams, McIndoe, Quiggin, Baker, Gourlay, Moran, Bull.