New-look Borough defend double bid

However, the Bulls will face a much-changed Stevenage team from the one they beat 2-0 last September.

Former Farnborough Town owner-manager Graham Westley took over struggling Stevenage at the beginning of the month and has caused enormous resentment amongst their relegation rivals with his transfer dealings.

The day after six of his former players at cash-strapped Farnborough were released, they joined their former boss at Stevenage. Although this does not contravene league rules, some relegation rivals feel that Westley has stolen a march by negotiating the signings of his former charges on free transfers when some would normally have commanded useful transfer fees.

Bulls boss Graham Turner commented: "I realise that there have been some strange goings on but I appreciate that Farnborough could not afford to keep the players and there was mutual agreement to the transfers.

"The fresh players should rejuvenate Stevenage but they will not have had much match practice as their away games at Telford, last Saturday, and Dagenham and Redbridge, on Tuesday, were both postponed."

Looking forward to Saturday's match, Turner added: "It is important that we get amongst them early and do not give them time to settle.

"We must continue our push up the table and, although I would have settled for four points from our last two away games, having won at Margate and got in front at Northwich, I was a little disappointed not to pick up all six points."

United welcome back Danny Williams from suspension and are optimistic that Ian Wright, jarred knee, and goalkeeper Matt Baker, troublesome hip, will have recovered from knocks picked up last Saturday.

The Bulls have also been boosted by Brentford defender Jay Lovett signing up for another month's loan, while the influential Matt Clark has started light training following a knee operation.