GRAHAM Turner has set his Hereford United side a target of four points from their next two games to stay on course for a Nationwide Conference play-off spot.

The Bulls face a difficult trip to the Yorkshire coast tomorrow for a clash with Scarborough (3pm) and head down south next weekend for another tester at Barnet.

Hereford remain on the fringe of the play-offs in sixth place but level on points with fifth placed Chester who have played one game less.

With just eight games to play Turner has stressed there is no room for slip-ups but is under no illusions about the size of the task facing them at the McCain Stadium tomorrow.

"Scarborough are eighth in the table but they won at Leigh last week and are not out of it yet," he said.

"Prior to that they didn't have the best of runs which has taken them out of the play-off reckoning but they won't have given it up and we know it is going to be a tough game.

"It will be a severe test of our credentials but if we want to earn a play-off spot we have to take something from the game and we need at least four points from our next two games."

Hereford, who lost 1-0 at home to Scarborough back in September, will be without two key players.

Tony James and John Grant are suspended after both were sent off in the incident-packed 4-0 defeat at leaders Yeovil two weeks ago.

Captain Ian Wright will replace James who is suspended for just one match while Rob Purdie will come in for Grant who is out for three matches.

The Bulls lost an appeal over Grant's dismissal for violent conduct but Turner said it was important the club backed up the striker.

"We were disappointed to lose the appeal but we had no doubts about doing it," said Turner.

"The referee described him as punching a Yeovil player with a clenched fist but he didn't do anything like that.

"He barged in, as did a number of players, but the referee decided that he was the only one to have thrown a punch.

"Having seen the video we felt John deserved our backing because the referee handled the whole situation badly and he didn't punch anybody."

Meanwhile Turner expects Ben Smith to be full of confidence after his headed goal in the 2-0 defeat of Kettering Town last weekend.

"Ben thrives on goals and is always prepared to have a go and that goal will have done his confidence a power of good," he added.

FORMCAST: The Bulls will edge it 1-0.