DARREN Middleton has special cause to remember Tiverton and it's not the nice pies they do at the Devon club either.

The Worcester City ace bagged a goal after just 29 seconds in last season's fixture between the two clubs at St George's Lane.

It was the quickest goal Middleton has scored in his career and it helped Worcester to win the match 4-2 with veteran striker Phil Stant also displaying his goalscoring touch with a superb hat-trick.

"I remember it well. I think everyone went to sleep and I was left alone and just slotted it home," said Middleton.

"Phil Stant scored a great hat-trick and it was a good performance, one that we can hopefully repeat.

"Tiverton are a good side and we had a cracking 0-0 draw with them earlier in the season. They've slipped up here and there but they are not too far behind us and we'll need to be on form."

Middleton expects to be fit despite sitting out training on Monday but Pat Lyons and David Holmes will once again be watching from the sidelines to their evident frustration.

"It's been five weeks on Saturday that I've been out and I would have expected it to clear up by now," said Holmes of the adductor muscle strain in his groin.

"I've got some more exercises to do and I'm giving them another week and then I'm going to sit down with John Barton and Archie Richards to discuss it.

"I had the injury for a few weeks but I told John I would bite the bullet and play on but since I've stopped playing it seems to have got worse."

Lyons has a problem with his hip flexor and is still at least two weeks away from a return after experiencing some soreness after a full training session last Thursday.

"It's calmed down a bit but I think I need to do some more strength work," said Lyons.

"It's actually doing my head in because I hadn't missed many games prior to the injury and I just hope it won't be too long. I thought I would be ready for Saturday which is why I put in some hard training on Thursday.

"I've been told six to eight weeks and it's six weeks on Saturday. I've just got to work hard and aim to be fit for the last six weeks of the season."

Mark Shail, who judging by his luck with injuries must have mown down several black cats this season, has some better news for a change.

The luckless defender picked up an Achilles knock on Thursday but trained on Monday and should be fit for Tiverton at the weekend.

David Foy will see a specialist about his knee next Tuesday after suffering a reaction in training last weekend.