Hereford United are out to take full advantage of their unexpected Auto Windscreens Shield reprieve.

The Bulls learned this week that they will be one of eight Nationwide Conference clubs who will play alongside the Second and Third Division clubs in a new venture.

The draw and details of a new sponsorship deal will be announced next Saturday, along with details of a new format for the competition.

United Director of Football Graham Turner is relishing an additional opportunity to prove that Conference clubs are at least the equal of many of their Nationwide League counterparts.

Turner said: "I think it is a brilliant thing for the Conference, providing the clubs who are in there do well.

"The pattern of promoted clubs who have come out of the Conference has seen teams like Macclesfield, Cheltenham and now Kidderminster do well in their first season. It shows there is not much of a gap now.

"I would expect Conference clubs to do well in the competition.

It shows there is not much of a gap now.

The Bulls originally thought they'd finished one place short of qualification -- the teams finishing from second to seventh last season, plus relegated Chester and Macmillan Trophy winners Doncaster, were the eight accepted.

But another stipulation was that clubs had to have Football League-graded grounds, and with fifth-placed Kingstonian falling down on that front, Hereford took their place.

It is believed the move could be a fore-runner of plans to increase the number of promotion places between the Conference and the Nationwide League.

However, the competition loses some of its kudos this year with no Wembley final -- the venue is still to be decided.

Hereford will hope to better their best showing in the competition, in 1985-86 when they lost to Bristol City in the area final.