WINCHESTER City will be travelling light to Saturday's crunch Evo-Stik South West showdown at Bristol Manor Farm.

The Citizens have six players unavailable for the third-versus-fourth clash with Simba Mlambo unwell, Rob Carr and Andy Jenkinson missing through work, Liam Gilbert and Joe Cook injured and new defensive signing Adam Brice serving a one-match ban.

It’s far from ideal at such a key time of the campaign with so much at stake.

But manager Craig Davis would far rather supplement his threadbare squad with a trio of up-and-coming youngsters than bow to the financial demands of potential signings from the Sydenhams Wessex League.

Defender Kieran Winman, attacker Josh McCormick and defender/midfielder Harvey Clark will all be on the coach to Bristol as City bid to make amends for October's choker of a 2-1 home defeat by Manor Farm.

Davis said: “We’re struggling a bit for numbers and we could go out and sign players from the Wessex League, but we’re not prepared to be held to ransom by players – it’s not right and we haven’t got the budget for it.

“In any case, why go for untried and untested Wessex players when we’ve got real good young lads coming through? I know they are also untried and untested at this level, but I know them, they know the ethos of this club and they’re not demanding silly money.”

Davis is not overly keen on the word ‘revenge’, but October’s loss to the Bristol side still rankles.

Going into the last ten minutes, City were leading by an Oli Bailey goal, but late strikes by Dean Stamp and Aron Robbins pulled the rug out from under them.

Only goal difference separates the clubs going into Saturday's clash at The Creek.

“They’re a big strong side who are right with us in the league,” said Davis.

“We’ve got a few out, but these are the sort of games you want to be involved in.”

On the plus side, Winchester are hopeful of having central defender Josh Harfield back in the fold.