HEREFORD United are without midfielder John Snape for their Boxing Day trip to Chester City in the Nationwide Conference (3pm).

Snape begins a three-match suspension for accumulated bookings, so the experienced Ian Rodgerson is his likely replacement.

Striker Steve Piearce, who has been banished from the club by Director of Football Graham Turner because of his constant injury problems, is also absent. Rob Elmes should return after being unavailable for the midweek LDV Vans Trophy win over Yeovil.

Turner admits his side face three testing games over the festive period, with a double-header against in-form Chester sandwiching a trip to third-placed Southport.

He said: "Both of them have been going well and the three games coming up are going to be very tough for us."

But he says the Yeovil victory will have boosted confidence. "We scored four goals and it could easily have been more."

n FORMCAST: Hereford will slip to a 2-1 defeat at Chester.