Worcester City defender Graham Ward looks set to miss Saturday's trip to Braintree Town with a calf injury.

If he fails a late fitness test it will be the first match the 25-year-old Irishman has missed this season.

"His calf is very tight and he thinks he might have pulled it but we can't get in to see the physio," boss Richard Dryden told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

"We're just liaising by phone so we won't really know until we get on the bus on Saturday who is fit to play."

Former Manchester United defender John Curtis is likely to fill for Ward in at right back and Jamie Price will continue at left-back in the absence of the injured Shabir Khan.

Gary Walker and Jon Richardson both have ankle injuries and look set to miss out again.

Braintree are only a point and a place better off than City in the Blue Square South table so Richard Dryden feels his side is capable of taking something from the game.

"We're up for a shock as when we played them at Worcester we underperformed in first half," he said.

"We were 2-0 down at half-time, but we came back to draw 2-2 and probably should have won the game.

"Even at 2-0 down I was disappointed not to win it, but we have underachieved massively at home," he admitted.

We have probably overachieved away from home and to me it just stinks of being mentally weak at home when there is a bit of pressure Richard Dryden

The St George's Lane squad has every right to travel in confident frame of mind as City's away record is impressive with seven wins from 13 games.

Richard Dryden's satisfaction with the team's away form is matched only by his frustration over their poor record at St George's Lane.

"We have probably overachieved away from home and to me it just stinks of being mentally weak at home when there is a bit of pressure," he said.

"We are enjoying it more when playing away from home which is a little bit disappointing."

There will be coverage of Worcester City's game at Braintree Town in Sport on Saturday on BBC Hereford and Worcester from 1400 GMT.

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