Boss Rob Smith today summed up the task that faces AFC Telford United in tonight’s clash at home to in-form Vauxhall Motors, declaring: “We’re the underdogs.”

The men from Ellesmere Port have won eight of their last 12 league games to surge away from the relegation battle and into the top half of the table.

That contrasts with Telford, who have lost four times since New Year’s Day – including their last two at home, against Stafford and Hyde.

“We’re the underdogs in some respects,” said Smith, whose side have not played at the New Bucks Head since the 3-2 defeat to Hyde on January 17.

“Without being disrespectful, you’d have maybe thought at the start of the season that Vauxhall Motors at home would be a game where we might expect three points, but it won’t be easy now.

“It’s probably the worst time we could face them all season – they’re in a right run of form and I had rave reviews of their performance on Saturday (when they held high-flying Tamworth to a 2-2 draw).

“They’re a bunch of hungry young players. Their manager (Carl Macauley) has done a great job in getting them very well organised and they play a system that suits them.”

Smith is without influential midfielder Jamie Vermiglio tonight, the primary school teacher away on a residential trip.

But James Meredith looks to have shrugged off the knee ligaments injury he picked up at Workington on Saturday, while Steve Jagielka has been declared fit to return to the squad and Emeka Nwadike is available.

Defenders Gavin Cowan and Lee Vaughan return after serving one-match suspensions and are likely to go straight back into the side.

The Bucks chief must decide whether to drop Indy Khela back to the bench to make room for Cowan or opt to revert to a three-man defence.

By CHRIS HUDSON