ANDY Preece believes the promotion play-off favourites are all frightened of Worcester City.

The St George's Lane club's incredible run of form has offered a slim opportunity of attaining a top-five spot in Nationwide North and a route to the Conference.

But the daunting task means Worcester must climb above two of their three play-off challengers, Kettering Town, Harrogate Town and Altrincham, by the season's close.

Before today's crunch fixtures, sixth-placed City trailed 'Alty' by three points, the Poppies by seven and Harrogate by nine, although the latter have played one extra game.

Despite the gap, Preece is sure that his side's rivals are scared of frittering away points.

"The pressure is not on us. It's on the other teams ahead of us," warned Preece. "We've come from nowhere and we are the ones doing the chasing.

"Anything for us now is a bonus. We want to make it hard for the teams above us.

"I'm sure we are the ones that they are worried about. The teams in and around the play-offs won't be feeling comfortable. They will be looking at the team in form and we are that team.

"I'm sure they will be saying to themselves that they cannot afford any slip-ups. Kettering have got a tough run with four out of five games away from home. They have also got Runcorn at home and they are fighting for their lives.

"We've won eight out of nine and people might think it's a lot to ask to win another five. But if we can win eight out of nine, then we can win five out of five.

"We can do it, it's possible. But we cannot afford a slip-up and we may need a bit of fortune along the way."

Preece is hopeful that Worcester's late play-off push inspires bumper gates in their last two home fixtures with Barrow and Droylsden.

One of the 38-year-old striker's few gripes since taking over the City hot-seat in February has been the relative low turn-outs at the Lane.

Preece added: "I know how the crowds used to be when I played for Worcester earlier in my career and I know we had big crowds earlier in the season. I just can't understand why we don't get so many now.

"I don't know whether it makes a difference if Kidderminster and Hereford are playing at home.

"I just hope come the Droylsden game that, if Kidderminster are out of it, we pick up a lot more supporters because it is an attractive game.

"It would be nice to win our next two games before we play Droylsden. I know it would be a massive game. They will be going for the championship and I'm sure we will be pushing for 1,500. I'm pretty certain of that."