Hereford United boss Graham Turner wants to retain the nucleus of the squad which has taken the club to the fringes of the inaugural Nationwide Conference play-offs.

Turner said that the final four matches remained crucial - with a top-five place still an outside possibility - and players' individual performances could influence his decision in offering contracts at the end of the season.

Despite last Saturday's drubbing of Burton, Hereford's promotion aspirations suffered a major setback on Monday when rivals Dagenham & Redbridge won their match in hand at relegation-threatened Leigh RMI.

United are seven points adrift in sixth place and this Saturday face a tough trip to Halifax Town, with whom they drew 1-1 at Edgar Street in October.

Hereford's leading scorer Steve Guinan said: "It's not going to be an easy game at Halifax because they are a solid team and have done quite well this season after slipping out of the Football League."

Hereford's last trip to The Shay was in November 1997 when a Geoff Horsfield hat-trick fired the Yorkshire club to a 3-0 win.

Guinan added: "Perhaps the pressure of the situation has been a little bit too much for us to handle over the past month or so. On the Saturday we have tried not to feel the pressure, but it has been there at the back of our minds.

"If you look at our situation now, many would think that we are out of the reckoning, but it's still mathematically possible. And if we keep winning you never know what may happen."

Paul Parry missed training at the start of the week after picking up a knee injury against Burton, Tony James remains doubtful for the trip to Halifax with an ankle problem, while Jamie Pitman is available after suspension.

Conference leaders Yeovil Town need just one more point to secure promotion to the Football League, while Kettering Town are the division's first club to be relegated.

Meanwhile, Hereford have the best disciplinary record in the Conference and hold top spot in the division's Fair Play award, and the Reserves recorded a 1-0 away win over Halesowen Harriers in a friendly on Tuesday.