GRAHAM Turner insists his young Hereford United charges can outsmart Stevenage Borough in tonight's Conference clash at Edgar Street (7.45).

Borough are expected to express their physical character when the two promotion rivals lock horns for the Sky-televised showdown.

But Bulls chief Turner has every faith that his side -- which includes inexperienced 19-year-old strikers Stuart Fleetwood and Andy Williams -- can stave off the challenge and extend United's 11-game league unbeaten run.

And a home victory is imperative if title hopefuls Hereford are to claw back the huge 16-point gap on leaders Accrington Stanley who beat Burton Albion 2-1 on Saturday.

"This is a big challenge," said Turner. "Stevenage Borough are a physical side and they will be right in our faces.

"We've got to be up for a physical battle and it will be a test, especially for the younger players. But I know they can deal with it.

"We enjoy playing in front of the cameras and we're in good form in the league. The only disappointment is that Accrington continue to win games.

"When you go 11 league games unbeaten as we've done, you'd like to think the gap would have closed. But it has not really happened.

"What we've got to do is make sure we reach the play-offs as a minimum. But we won't give up. Accrington are coming here in a couple of weeks, so there's a chance of closing the gap."

Teenagers Williams and Fleetwood lead the line in the absence of top scorer Adam Stansfield, who undergoes surgery on his fractured cheekbone this week.

Striker Guy Ipoua (calf) is doubtful to make the squad, although Danny Carey-Bertram (hamstring) has a better chance after returning to training.

Jamie Pitman (knee) and Tony James (groin) are out for Hereford who are now third in the table after Halifax's weekend 2-1 win at Tamworth.

Sky make the visit to Edgar Street on the two-year anniversary of Hereford's memorable televised 9-0 win at Dagenham and Redbridge.