Hereford United face one of their toughest tests of the season when they travel to take on Morecambe at Christie Park on Saturday.

The Shrimps, who currently sit seventh in the table, have the best home record in the Nationwide Conference and have won 10 of their 13 home games to date.

The only visitors to win at Christie Park are league leaders Chester who claimed a 1-0 success back in November, while Margate and Graves-end, who make a habit of upsetting top sides with draws at Hereford and Chester, escaped with a point.

Morecambe were brushed aside 3-0 at Edgar Street back in August but, under the management of former Bull Jimmy Harvey, who last week completed 10 years service at Christie Park, they are likely to prove a much tougher nut to crack on their home turf.

They have won their last four home matches and have gradually improved their league position after a disastrous spell in October and November when they picked up just two points from seven games.

As with Hereford, they have won both of their Conference matches in 2004 with a 1-0 scoreline.

One player not lining up for the Shrimps on Saturday, however, is former Hereford full-back Chris Lane who was released from his contract just months after signing from Southport.

Hereford will welcome back Danny Williams, whose goal at Exeter on New Year's Day was United's 400th in the Conference, after suspension.

Ben Smith, however, who scored two of the goals in Hereford's success against Morecambe at Edgar Street, will have to sit out the game as he is serving a one-match ban.

Also missing will be Steve Guinan, United's other scorer in the first match between the sides, who is making good progress as he undergoes rehabilitation at Lilleshall after a knee injury but is unlikely to be able to return until at least the end of the month.

So with Smith, Guinan and the transferred Paul Parry all absent, United will be without their three top scorers this season.

Andy Tretton, whose expected comeback in the Reserves against Nuneaton at Edgar Street on Tuesday night did not materialise as a precaution due to the heavy conditions, is also hopeful of returning early in February.

United's Reserves, who were trailing by three goals against an experienced Nuneaton side with four minutes to play, fought back to claim a dramatic 3-3 draw with goals from Jordan King, Chris Mortlock and Danny Carey-Bertram.

Tickets for Hereford's match with Shrewsbury Town on March 27 go on sale from the club offices on Monday.