MIDFIELDER Jon Holloway has been ruled out of Worcester City's Worcestershire Senior Cup clash with holders Moor Green tonight (7.45).

The combative Holloway picked up a hip injury in Saturday's 1-0 Dr Martens League Premier Division defeat at Crawley Town after a goalmouth scramble following a City corner.

Darren Bullock is poised to re-turn from suspension and Paul Carty, victim of an early tactical substitution on Saturday, is also available.

The two clubs have already met at St George's Lane this season with a Mark Owen hat-trick helping City to a 3-2 win.

The Moors, who gained revenge at the Moorlands with a 3-1 victory, come into the match on a high after grabbing a late winner against Trafford in the second round of the FA Trophy at the weekend.

City manager John Barton is expecting another testing game for his injury-depleted squad.

"All the games against Moor Green are competitive and keenly fought and I don't anticipate anything different tonight," he said.

"Their season has gone well so far and credit to them for that. They are the cup holders, but hopefully we take our performance on from Saturday which was slightly improved on recent displays."

City remain in the hunt for Bedworth United duo Adam Webster and James Richardson and negotiations are still on-going as club chairman Dr Mike Sorensen attempts to do a deal with the Dr Martens Western Division side.

Barton, who is without the injured Mark Owen, Darren Middleton, Ian Cottrill, Chris Greenman, Holloway and Dwaine McFarlane, remains optimistic he can bolster his squad by the weekend despite numerous setbacks to date.

"We have put in a substantially improved offer for the two Bedworth players and by the standards they are operating at it is a very good offer. I'm relatively confident we will have new faces," he said.

"There have been hours and hours of hard work bearing no fruit but there has been some progress and we are hopeful."

Formcast: Worcester may have to replay after a 1-1 draw.