IT is the game that can start to turn Hereford United's automatic promotion dreams into reality or it will make them sweat right down to the final match of the season.

The Bulls head to Coca-Cola League Two leaders MK Dons tonight (7.45) in a clash that sees the Edgar Street side draw level in games with fourth-placed Stockport County.

Victory over Paul Ince's men would see Hereford go three points clear of the Hatters with four games remaining, but defeat would leave the gap just a matter of goals.

The Dons are hoping to secure their automatic promotion place tonight after stuttering against Wycombe Wanderers on Saturday.

"This is going to be another big game. We have come through a spell of tough situations but we have done extremely well," said Bulls' chief Graham Turner.

"MK Dons have got a lovely stadium and playing surface.

"We enjoy those kinds of pitches so there is no reason why we shouldn't do well."

The Bulls go into this match after a fine 1-0 win at fellow promotion hopefuls Darlington courtesy of a late Gary Hooper strike.

Following a draw against Chester and defeat at Lincoln, Turner was pleased with the response his players showed in the north-east.

"The application of my players was very good," he said. "To come back in the manner that we did showed a lot of character.

"We know that this is our game in hand over Stockport and we know that it is one of the toughest games we could get, but we tend to do well against the better teams."

Turner is still without on-loan midfielder Sammy Igoe (ankle).