Hereford United's fate my lie with others but manager Graham Turner is not throwing in the towel on his side's play-off hopes.

The Edgar Street club's Conference promotion dream appears to be in tatters as they sit seven points adrift of Dagenham who occupy fifth spot.

However, with five matches remaining Turner was in bullish mood ahead of tomorrow's home clash with Nigel Clough's Burton Albion (3pm).

"Our play-off chances look remote but you never know, it's never over till it's over," said Turner. "You get some strange results at this time of year just look at Doncaster losing to Scarborough on Tuesday night so these things can occur.

"Obviously the gap between us is such that the teams above us need something dramatic to happen to them but we won't stop trying until the end."

Turner will have a full complement of strikers with the return of John Grant from a three-match suspension to add to new signings Karl Hawley,

Albano Correia and Steve Guinan who was a surprise substitute last week but scored when he came on in the second half.

Influential midfielder Jamie Pitman is suspended, while defensive lynch-pin Tony James will be given as much time as possible to recover from a twisted ankle.

"We are just waiting on the fitness of Tony James," added Turner.

"He's made some good progress but it's still right in the balance so we will leave it as late as possible."

Newly promoted Burton are undefeated in their last four matches but will be keen to take maximum points to consolidate their Conference status.

"I saw Burton play last week, beating Southport and they are a workman like side," said Turner. "They've done reasonably well to consolidate themselves in the Conference and they won't be a walkover with the likes of Christian Moore always a threat."

Hereford will be hoping for a change of fortune after a run of seven games with just one win culminating in last week's last-gasp defeat to Margate.

"We played well enough to take all three points and we need to take that form into the final last five games."

FORMCAST: Bulls to draw 1-1.