Truro City player-manager Lee Hodges has admitted Basingstoke Town pose another tough home test ahead of today's Blue Square Bet South match at Treyew Road (3pm).
Hodges, 39, is hoping his basement side can bounce back from Friday's 1-0 defeat at Havant and Waterlooville, now on a five-match winning streak at Westleigh Park and unbeaten in eight at home.
City's boss admits: "We always knew it would be a tough ask at Havant, given their home run, but it was a better performance than the one against Welling.
"Now we have to try to up it again because Basingstoke are a very good side.
"In fact I thought they would be up around the play-offs again, and but for a run of indifferent form they would be. They are quality outfit, with very good players and will be another tough nut to crack if we want to get anything out of the game."
The visitors boast ex-Torquay United target man Tim Sills and former Exeter City and Torquay goalkeeper Ashley Bayes, as well as highly rated striker Delano Sam-Yorke.
Intelligent striker Sills – now 33 – proved he still knows how to find the back of the net with Saturday's 83rd-minute leveller against a Bath City side who had beaten leaders Welling United last week.
Hodges said: "You know that any side with the likes of Sillsy and Sam-Yorke up front are going to give your defence plenty to think about, it really goes without saying."
Hodges was able to recall fit-again Marcus Martin at Havant, and he brought in Ben Williams for the injured Martin Watts and also gave a late run-out to City fans' favourite Stewart Yetton.
Hodges said: "I guess the one doubt is Martin but as far as I know everyone else is fit and obviously Yettsy will be raring to go, as usual. I gave him 15 minutes on Friday and as long as he had no ill-effects he will feature again. It's a case of easing him back in.
"I know he would like to think he could run around for 90 minutes from the off – that's Yettsy and why we like him so much – but he has been out for a long time and has not played a full match for ages, so it's about being careful with managing his game time."
The experienced Hodges remains a fitness doubt as well, but said: "What you always want to see is your side giving it their best every time they play.
"Obviously, it's never nice looking at the league table but we still have the same positive attitude every time we go out to play – spurred on by fantastic supporters, who have backed us through thick and thin."
