Shrewsbury Town manager Graham Turner has warned his players that they can toss the form book out of the window for tomorrow’s League Two derby at Hereford United (1pm).

Town make the trip to Edgar Street looking to pile more pressure on the four sides above them in the race for promotion, while the Bulls are battling to avoid dropping back into non-League football.

But Turner – who managed Hereford for 15 years before returning to Shrewsbury –insists those contrasting fortunes will count for little in a keenly-contested derby.

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He said: “There’s no way that, because of their League position, we will under-estimate them.

“It’s a local derby so you can forget about league positions with the extra passion there will be in the game and they are desperate for points to avoid relegation.

“We look in good knick at the moment, so it’s set up nicely for a decent game.

He added: “We know what to expect from them – it will be another tough, physical battle.

“I thought last Saturday that was the case with Southend, when they launched a lot of balls into our box – particularly late in the game.

“We can expect that at Hereford and we have got to be able to deal with it.”

The big match, where Town will be roared on by a sell-out travelling support of 1,300, will also mark the first time that former Shrewsbury manager Gary Peters has come up against his old club.

Peters, who was Town boss from 2004 to 2008, went to Hereford earlier this season to take up a director of football role in support of manager Jamie Pitman.

Turner said: “Football is almost like a village, your paths cross constantly.

“When you are in the game for any length of time, you keep coming across the same people.

“There are a number of managers who have been around for a long time.”

Striker Marvin Morgan is suspended for tomorrow’s game, having been controversially sent off in last week’s win over league leaders Southend.

Midfielder Nicky Wroe comes back into contention for the trip, having marked his return from a foot injury with a goal in a midweek friendly against Crewe.

See also:

• Graham Turner calls for Shrewsbury Town fan power
• Chairman hails Shrewsbury Town players and fans
• No Shrewsbury Town appeal over Marvin Morgan red card