IT is a week in which Worcester Raiders' title credentials will be properly tested, as they welcome two of the top five to Sixways in the coming days.

Wednesday night sees Lewis Marston's Pershore come to town (7.45 pm KO) before Hellenic League Premier leaders Corsham Town make the trip to Worcester on Saturday afternoon (3 pm KO).

Raiders currently sit fourth in the table but with just one win in their last three league games, they have slipped off the top two of neighbours Worcester City and Corsham. 

And if they have ambitions of winning the title this year, then these big games against the top sides usually play a big part in determining who will come out on top come the end of May. 

Raiders come into Wednesday's clash with the dangerous Pershore having drawn 0-0 at Brimscombe & Thrupp on Saturday, in which the hosts were reduced to nine men for 23 minutes. 

"We controlled the game in large parts, but it was a frustrating afternoon," said Gormley at the weekend.

"We never looked like losing the game - it was a very start-stop type of game but we didn't really ever look like scoring. 

"There will not be any excuses from us, the quality just was not there. We had a good chat with the lads in the changing rooms, there is a lot of disappointment.

"We have had a busy schedule and that just continues this week with Pershore on Wednesday and Corsham on Saturday, so there is no time to sit back and feel sorry for ourselves, we have to pick ourselves up and go again and keep fighting."

Gormley's men will no doubt have to be better on Wednesday as Pershore carry plenty of threat themselves and will take advantage of anything less than Raiders at the top of their game. 

The Plums are one point, with a game in hand, behind Raiders, and come into the clash on the back of a 3-2 win over Royal Wootton Bassett Town at the weekend. 

Marston's men have won five in a row in all competitions, so will be full of confidence and hopeful that they can go one better than the 0-0 they played out against Wednesday's opponents on the opening night of the 2023/24 campaign in August.