WORCESTER City boss Andy Preece believes the winning mentality is firmly fixed in his players for Saturday's do-or-die clash.

City know only a victory at fellow play-off contenders Harrogate Town will give them any chance of reaching the play-offs.

They must then hope county rivals Redditch United beat Farsley Celtic, while Hyde United and Blyth Spartans fail to beat champions Droylsden and top-five side Hinckley United respectively.

Upbeat boss Preece: "We will go to Harrogate in the same frame of mind as we have been for our last six or seven games, knowing we have to win to keep ourselves in contention for the play-offs. It is nothing new for us now.

"We have to get the win and we will worry about what else has happened after that, but we are not under the same pressure as some of the other teams. Harrogate and Hyde have slipped out of the play-offs in recent weeks despite being up there all season, so they will be under more pressure than us.

"It is only us and Blyth who are playing without pressure because we have been a way off the play-offs for a while now, so we will go into Saturday's game in a relaxed mood."

But Worcester will need to make it third time lucky if they are to be successful at Wetherby Road.

Preece's men were thumped 4-1 in North Yorkshire at the beginning of last season, despite taking the lead, and lost 2-0 in the previous campaign.

But the City manager insisted: "I don't think the 4-1 scoreline was a fair reflection of the game. We were the better team for the first half-an-hour and lots of factors contributed to the defeat.

"However, Harrogate have had their problems at home in recent weeks."

Defender Shabir Khan's hamstring injury will keep him out of the game but Preece is confident he will be able to name five substitutes.

City had just 14 fit players available for the 2-0 win against Hucknall Town last Saturday and only had the manager, Troy Wood and Tom Warmer on the bench.

However, Preece hopes midfielder Shaun Findlay will be over a calf injury and he has recalled Gary Walker from his loan at Malvern Town.