PHIL Mullen takes his revitalised side to county rivals Bromsgrove on Saturday on the back of three straight victories.

Rovers have won just two of their last seven Western Division matches - a slump that followed a 1-0 defeat at Common Road in December and the arrival of ex-Evesham skipper Darren Bullock at the Victoria Ground.

Bullock, though, won't be in the home line-up this weekend. Surprise, surprise - he's suspended!

Another former Common Roader - Steve Lutz - regained his place in the Bromsgrove midfield last Saturday at Bedworth where a late Lee Ross goal put another dent in Rovers' promotion aspirations.

"Steve hasn't been missed on the pitch since he decided to leave but he never let us down and I was disappointed to see him go," Mullen admitted.

Mullen's men haven't played competitively for 14 days, while the home camp has been in mourning after the tragic death of young defender Ashley Read.

"It's going to be an emotional day. It's their first home match since his death but we will just have to get on with it the best we can," said the Robins' boss.

Like his former sidekick, Wesley Joyce is serving a three-match ban that will keep him out of next Tuesday's trip to Gloucester City (FA Trophy replay permitting) and the home game with Rugby United on March 22.

Quite unique

"Wes will be missed," Mullen said. "He's quite unique at this level and would have proved a handful for them."

Former Kidderminster forward Paul Oakey trained on Tuesday but Mullen is unlikely to pitch him straight into the Worcestershire derby.

"I'll have a think about things after training but we will go there in confident mood and hope that we can put another dent in their promotion hopes while moving ourselves closer to the top six," the manager declared.