TWO of Hereford United's second-placed team will have a special reason to want to shine when the Bulls visit sixth-placed Shrewsbury for Saturday's important Nationwide Conference local derby clash.

Leading scorer Steve Guinan and utility player Dean Craven both had stints at Gay Meadow without really making a mark during Shrewsbury's Football League days.

For Guinan, who spent the final month of the 2001-2 season with the then Third Division side, making five football league appearances, the match offers an ideal chance to regain his goal form.

The Bulls' top marksman has found the net on 15 occasions this season but has not scored in the Conference since October 7.

Craven, who will deputise at left-back for the suspended Michael Rose after an encouraging display last Saturday against Margate, has to look back a little further for his time as a Shrew.

The 24-year-old was released from West Bromwich Albion on the same day as Bulls skipper Tony James, then signed for Shrewsbury in August 1997 and went on to make 11 league appearances for the Shropshire side before departing for Merthyr Tydfil in January 2000.

One former Shrewsbury player will not be returning as part of the Bulls line-up on Saturday, however. Andy Tretton has suffered a setback in his recovery from a thigh injury and faces a further period on the sidelines.

Tretton's continuing absence is likely to mean an extension to Tamika Mkandawire's loan period, although the WBA man faces a one-match ban after his sending-off in the win against Margate.

United, who welcome back Jamie Pitman after a one-match suspension, will need to overturn a little bit of recent history if they are to succeed at Shrewsbury.

Hereford did not manage a single win at Gay Meadow in the Football League and even during their most successful season - the Third Division championship campaign of 1975-6 - the Shrewsbury side, which included Graham Turner at the heart of their defence, came out on top 2-1.

Even keeping a clean sheet, something United failed to do in the 10 league encounters between the sides, would be something to celebrate, particularly for goalkeeper Matt Baker on his 100th Conference start for the Bulls on Saturday.