Hereford United manager Graham Turner will tell his players to focus firmly on the job in hand before Saturday's Nationwide Conference clash with high-flying Southport at Edgar Street.

The FA Cup tie with Wigan Athletic the following week is attracting a lot of attention, but the Bulls boss is fully aware that his side cannot afford to drop further points against a team challenging for a place in the end-of-season play-offs.

Hereford slipped to seventh position following last Saturday's 2-0 defeat at second-placed Doncaster Rovers and Turner knows the importance of securing their first league win in five matches.

Turner said: "Southport are a decent side and they won't be far away from a top-five place at the end of the season. And we need to improve our home form because it has been very disappointing."

The Bulls have won only two of their eight home league matches, while fourth-placed Southport have secured three away victories from eight outings.

Hereford's last league win at Edgar Street against Dagenham & Redbridge at the beginning of October is their only triumph over a club currently in the top half of the table.

Midfielder Jamie Pitman will be serving a one-match suspension against Southport, while United have extended the loan spell of Carlisle United midfielder Mick Galloway for a second month.

Midfielder Ben Smith is still continuing his recovery from injury, Matt Clarke has regained his fitness, and striker John Grant is expected to take part in training towards the end of this week.

Striker Scott Voice has joined Hinckley on a month's loan in an attempt to return to match-fitness.

Turner added: "We all realise that the FA Cup match against Wigan is just around the corner, and the thought of playing in front of the television cameras can act as distraction to the players. But the message to the players is that there is competition for places for the Wigan game and to concentrate on the match with Southport."

Meanwhile, United are hoping to parade a Herefordshire bull at the Sky-televised FA Cup first-round clash with high-riding Second Division outfit Wigan on November 16, kick-off 5.35pm. Hereford are expecting about 500 supporters from the Lancashire outfit, who dumped Premiership club Manchester City out of the Worthington Cup on Tuesday.