WINNING the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup is high on the agenda for Worcester City this season.

Manager Richard Dryden intends to field a strong side for tonight’s quarter-final clash against Redditch United at St George’s Lane (7.45).

Goalkeeper Jake Meredith, strikers Rob Elvins and Marvin Brown, midfielders Rob Davies and Louis Bridges and versatile left-sided player Alfie Carter are all expected to start.

Shabir Khan will also feature at some stage for his last appearance before joining up with the Pakistan squad ahead of next month’s South Asian Football Federation Cup.

However, captain Tom Kemp is still struggling with a rib problem, former Wolves defender Mark Clyde’s long-standing knee complaint won’t be risked and striker Marc McGregor is unavailable.

Although there will be chan-ges from the side that earned a 1-1 draw at Dorchester Town on Saturday, Dryden believes the players coming in are just as capable of representing the club.

He declared: “I want to win it this year. Redditch is a big local derby, they are close relatives and we haven’t got many local derbies.

“We will make some changes but that’s not lessening our starting XI. There are people unlucky to be out of the team at the moment, it’s a chance for them to go and prove that they should be in the XI again.”

City will be looking to win the first of two cup matches this week — with Burham to come in the FA Trophy on Saturday —while Redditch have an opportunity to put the weekend’s 8-0 Blue Square North trouncing at Fleetwood Town behind them.

Dryden, whose side lost 1-0 at the same stage of the competition to Redditch last season, said: “Both Blue Square South and North are so up and down. Redditch will probably go and win next week in the league and Fleetwood will lose, that’s the nature of both leagues at the moment.

“It was a big hammering but you don’t pick up any points if you lose 8-0 or 1-0, so knowing Redditch manager Gary Whild, he will get them up and ready for the game.”

Elvins’ return to the squad, following a three-match ban, helped City arrest their slump in form and Dryden believes the striker’s presence is invaluable.

The manager said: “I think he’s a great asset to our squad, I’m pleased to have him back — we now have got a lot of forwards to compete for places.”

Tonight’s match, which can go to extra-time and penalties if needed, will be segregated with visiting supporters being hous-ed in Stand D and on the Canal End terrace. Entry is £6 for adults and £3 concessions.