RICHARD Dryden has called on his Worcester City players to show him that they are worth keeping on next season.

Following Saturday's 3-1 defeat at Hyde United, the City boss admits reaching the Blue Square North play-offs is now virtually beyond his team.

Worcester's second defeat of the campaign to Hyde leaves them 11 points adrift of the top five after Stalybridge, Burscough and Boston United all won at the weekend.

Dryden now wants City to finish the season strongly in readiness for mounting a serious promotion challenge next season, starting with tonight's match against Vauxhall Motors at St George's Lane (7.45).

"We will try and win as many games as we can," the Worcester manager said.

"It's a big ask to reach the play-offs now with the results on Saturday and us being beaten.

"I want to win as many games as possible between now and the end of the season and build for next year.

"The play-offs are a long way off but I spoke to the chairman on Saturday and we have given it a go but it looks like we are going to fall short.

"It's how the players respond to the defeat. It's a big blow and if we had drawn we might have been nine points off the play-offs but we are a long way off.

"The response now is to see who wants to stay for next season."

Vauxhall were without a fixture at the weekend and arrive at the Lane second-from-bottom in the table with just two wins in their last 10 matches.

But they held Worcester to a 1-1 draw at Ellesmere Port in November when Emeka Nwadike scored in John Barton's first match in caretaker charge.

The meeting also marked Jamie Price's first appearance in a City shirt following his arrival from Gloucester City.

Worcester have not won on home soil since January 5, when they beat Hinckley, following 2-2 draws with Workington and Blyth Spartans and the woeful 1-0 loss against Hucknall last time out.

Dryden knows the importance of bouncing back from the Hyde defeat with three points under the floodlights tonight and is determined his players will be ready from the off.

He said: "Vauxhall are struggling and they are fighting for their lives and if we don't start well we will get a result like Hucknall."

Captain Chris Smith came through 90 minutes against Hyde and could continue in the centre of defence despite needing ice on his ankle following Saturday's match. However, Nwadike is a doubt as the midfielder is struggling with a back problem.