CRAWLEY'S Broadfields Stadium may be a dream set- up but it harbours nightmares for Worcester City who shipped a goal after just 58 seconds in last season's clash.

A year on and tomorrow John Barton takes his much-improved City side to Sussex as leaders for another test of their title aspirations against Billy Smith's third-placed Reds.

The pick of the Dr Martens Premier League programme pits City against one of the best non-league set-ups in the country and with the club putting on a special family day, expect a crowd of up to 2,000.

Crawley remain a point adrift of City but with five wins on the trot and nine new signings will be expecting to mount another championship challenge.

Reds' boss Smith has a choice of four strikers in Dave Stevens, Dan Hopton, Nic McDonnell and Warren Bagnell while ex-Wycombe midfielder and former Northern Ireland U21 international Mo Harkin is creating most of their goals.

Ex-Wimbledon midfielder Peter Fear is back from injury while left back Ernie Cooksey is a constant threat going forward.

Barton meanwhile has selection dilemmas of a different kind with the expected absence of Michael Blackwood and the fitness doubts surrounding David Foy who injured his knee on Monday.

Already City's small squad is being tested and who plays in midfield alongside John Snape could be the pivotal decision of the weekend.

With two of the potential replacements, Darren Middleton and Jon Holloway, in good form in their respective forward and right back roles, Barton is loath to upset the apple-cart so Leon Jackson could stand by for a first start of the season, with Asa Charlton filling Blackwood's role.

"I don't want to move players out of position if possible because that can create its own problems," said Barton. "I would prefer to leave players in the roles that they've been doing well in."

City go into the match buoyed by a hard-fought point against Tamworth and experienced defender Mark Shail was pleased to emerge with a point.

"They were one of the better sides we have encountered and though we didn't play particularly well we still managed to get a point which is encouraging," he said.

"We are not getting carried away and there is a lot of experience here and people are keeping their feet on the floor."

However Shail is not surprised at how well Worcester have started the season.

"It hasn't come out of the blue because there are a lot of good people at the club and the manager has brought in some good signings."

Formcast: Another draw for City 1-1.

Worcester City reserves are in action at St George's Lane against Tamworth tomorrow (2.45).