ANDY Preece marks his one-year anniversary as Worcester City boss today confident of orchestrating a late surge up Nationwide North.

The veteran striker took over the reigns on February 3 last year and sampled his first taste of management at St George's Lane against Southport.

Ironically, he faces another tricky Lancashire challenge tomorrow as promotion hopefuls Lancaster City make the long journey to Worcester.

Both sides ground out a dull 0-0 draw back in October, although City registered a league double over the Dolly Blues last season.

"It's been an eventful year," said Preece. "It would be nice to mark it with a win, but it's about winning every game.

"Our aim is to keep winning and keep pushing up the table. We've got a little bit of momentum going and it's important to keep that going.

"Lancaster have done well this season. They've pushed themselves right up near the play-offs and, like us, they have got a few games in hand.

"They are in a good position and they will look to be positive and win the game. But we're confident of winning all our games at home."

Although City have lost four league matches at home this season with their last defeat coming three-and-a-half months ago against Nuneaton Borough.

Preece added: "We want to keep that home record going until the end of the season. If we can keep it going, we'll move up the league.

"We've got a number of home games coming up and we must look to win all of them if we want to give ourselves a serious chance of moving up the table."

City's scheduled Tuesday night fixture at Stalybridge Celtic was called off due to a frozen pitch.

The postponement may serve to benefit Preece's side, with quintet Tom Warmer, Nick Colley, Adam Webster, George Clegg and Mark Danks all carrying slight knocks earlier this week.

All five players should shake off their bumps and bruises, while Chris Smith could make a surprise return to Worcester's squad after returning to full training last night.

However, teenage star Sam Wedgbury, permitted to feature for City on 'work-experience' following his transfer to Sheffield United, is suffering from a chest infection.

Veteran Graham Hyde is still a week away recovering from a groin problem and midfielder Jai Stanley needs another reserve game under his belt before considering a first-team recall.

Preece said: "There's mixed feelings over Tuesday night. Obviously, we need to get the Stalybridge game played at some point and we would have gone into it on the back of a decent run.

"But we had a few players with niggles and I was thinking about a couple of changes. So perhaps we would not have been at full strength."

Meanwhile, Preece has turned down requests from a handful of Southern League outfits to take utility player Danny Hodnett on loan.

Stourport Swifts were among those chasing Hodnett, but Preece is currently unwilling to part with the youngster.

He said: "One or two clubs are interested in Danny on loan. He's someone who has got a long-term future with us. If we did have everybody fit, we would perhaps look at sending him out to get games."