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The Bulls face Oxford United in a League Two match on Saturday desperate for three points to pull clear of the drop zone.
This is only the third League season that the two sides have shared the same division. Last season's two games both ended up in 2-0 away wins with the Bulls winning at the Kassam Stadium with a brace of Stuart Fleetwood goals, and the U's winning at Edgar Street during Simon Davey's brief reign. Games between the sides have always produced goals, averaging 3.6 a match over the eight League and Cup matches since 1977.
Bulls boss Jamie Pitman is likely to have a limited choice again due to injuries. With Simon Clist unable to play against his parent club, young defender Will Evans is likely to be the only fit body able to take his place in the 16 man matchday squad apart from the outcast Sean Canham. Quite what that will do to the way the Bulls line up is up for debate. Pushing Kenny Lunt back out on the left side is likely to be unpopular, so Pitman may prefer to move Rob Purdie from his full back berth and slot Evans back into the defence instead.
The U's come to Edgar Street on the edges of play-off contention. They have picked up more points away from home, drawing four of five home games, but have lost twice on the road before beating both Dagenham and Barnet without conceding a goal. Main goal threat James Constable has three so far this season after 15 League goals last term, with midfielder Simon Heslop also on that mark. At the back, the arrival of veteran defender Michael Duberry has steadied a defence that was occasionally very leaky last season.
Hereford United vs Oxford United, Edgar Street, Saturday 1st October, 3.00pm.
