WINCHESTER City will be up against the Southern One South & West’s bottom club for the second week running on Saturday.

Since City beat basement boys Bridgwater 1-0 in Somerset last weekend, courtesy of a Howard Neighbour penalty, Wantage Town have slumped to the foot of the table.

The Alfredians’ 4-0 midweek drubbing at the hands of Oxfordshire neighbours North League has dropped them below Bridgwater on goal difference.

So, while Winchester boss Ian Saunders takes nothing for granted, he knows Saturday's home game presents a golden opportunity for his ninth-placed side to get another win under their belts ready for potentially bigger challenges ahead.

Between now and mid-March, City face the might second-placed Evesham, fourth-placed Swindon Supermarine and fifth-placed Salisbury.

Saunders said: “I’m not reading a great deal into Wantage losing 4-0. North Leigh are a decent side.

“I’m sure they’ll come here, shut up shop and try and catch us on the break, but hopefully our top guns will be firing.

“On paper we should get the three points and that would set us up nicely for a tough few weeks with three of the top five coming up.”

City, who reached the play-offs under Paul Masters last season, are seven points shy of fifth spot.

Given the lateness of Saunders’ summer appointment, being on the fringes of the play-offs is an achievement in itself and, as the old cliche goes, anything more would be a bonus.

“There’s not a great deal of pressure to achieve what the club achieved last year, but we’d still like to try and replicate it if we can,” said Saunders.

“Given all the early upheaval, where we are is pretty decent. It would be remiss of us not try for the play-offs but, at the same time, we’re building for the future.

“We’re being supported well from behind the scenes and Winchester's a good place to be right now.”

Young full-back Joe Hayward, who broke his leg in mid-November, has got a second week of training under his belt. “Joe’s coming into a bit more contact work, which is a bonus for him and for us,” said Saunders.

“Taz Roberts has had a bit of rest which has helped his back problem, so the squad is pretty much getting there.”

Winchester had been due to play at Salisbury this coming Tuesday, but that fixture has been put back to March 14 (7.45pm) because the Whites have a rearranged Southern League Cup tie against Shortwood.