WORCESTER City can inflict a telling blow in the title race with victory at leaders Tamworth tomorrow (3pm).

Three points will return City to the top of the Dr Martens Premier Division and pile the pressure on Darron Gee's men who saw the championship snatched from their grasp on the final day of last season.

Tamworth have a two-point lead plus two games in hand but City manager John Barton insists it's points on the board that count.

"Those games in hand are going to be critical - there's no doubt about that," said Barton.

"But until those games in hand are won they are not worth anything.

"Tamworth are the best team we have played this year, no doubt, and they were the best team last season but they've had the bitter heartache of what happened last year and will be keen to ensure that doesn't happen again.

"People will talk about this match because we are the top two sides at the moment but to talk just about us as being title contenders is being disrespectful to the likes of Chippenham, Stafford, Dover and Tiverton who I think are still in there."

Barton admits the onus is on Worcester to get a result but he should be boosted with Mark Blount fit to face the Lambs after a burst blood vessel in the defender's thigh sidelined him from the 3-1 New Year's Day win against Hednesford.

Both managers are playing down the importance of tomorrow's match but it's one both are relishing.

"I think everybody to a man is looking forward to this match," admitted Barton. "The ball is firmly in their court at the moment in terms of points and games played and their position is stronger that ours.

"Normally in the approach to these matches you say it is about us and what we do but this one might be a little bit more difficult and you have to pay them respect because they've had a fantastic season."

Barton was buoyed by the Hednesford victory and described the last 20 minutes as the most pivotal of the season.

"I just had the feeling that if we hadn't have got the three points everybody connected with the club would have lost a little bit of faith and belief somewhere along the line," he said.