SOUTHERN Premier sensations Salisbury City are now just one win away from the promised land of the Conference South.

If they can follow last night's 3-1 victory at Rugby Town with a home success over Gloucester City, the champagne corks could be popping at around 4.45 on Saturday afternoon.

Manager Nick Holmes is praying the Whites can summon up one final push past the winning post.

Paul Sales, last night's two-goal hero, limped off with a tight hamstring in the second half, making him doubtful for Saturday, while Alex Haddow (hamstring) and Scott Barlett (groin) are both carrying injuries.

"We've got a general stiffness where the amount of games we've played is beginning to take its toll," said Holmes.

"But it would be lovely if we could get a result on Saturday. We still need one more win."

The leaders dominated Rugby to such a degree in the first half that they breezed three up in little more than half-an-hour.

Luke Prince drew first blood after just four minutes, cutting in from the right and sending a left-foot shot across the keeper.

Two bullet headers from Sales followed in the 29th and 32nd minutes with Prince and Haddow providing the supply line.

It took a Salisbury error to hand Rugby their 56th-minute reply. Haddow sold keeper Kevin Sawyer short with an attempted back pass, allowing Delroy Gordon to toe-poke home.

"We played really well in the first half but were very average in the second half and didn't create much at all," summed up Holmes. "Unfortunately we gifted them a goal, but the rest of the time our two centre-halves, Aaron Cook and Tim Bond, did the job, just as they have all season."

Salisbury - now nine points clear at the summit - handed a debut to Gary Horgan, who replaced the suspended Tommy Widdrington in the heart of midfield. Horgan had been signed prior to the transfer deadline, but the Southern League weren't happy with his registration form from Cirencester and he was only cleared to play yesterday following an FA appeal.