HEREFORD UTD'S victory at Aldershot yesterday meant that Chester's lead at the top of the Nationwide Conference was cut to three points, but City do have a game in hand.
City have an opportunity to restore their six-point cushion tonight, when they travel to meet play-off hopefuls Shrewsbury Town in an all-ticket derby match at Gay Meadow.
Chester have been in impressive form of late - they are unbeaten in their last 11 outings, the last four of which have resulted in victories.
Manager Mark Wright is aware of the threat that Shrewsbury pose.
He said: "This will obviously be a difficult game, they have a good record at home, and they have some quality players in their squad.
"Another factor of course is that they are pushing hard for a play-off spot.
"We have to main-tain the high standard that we have achieved in recent matches."
Wright added: "We have played some topnotch sides in the last few games, and Shrewsbury will be another stern test, but we haven't done badly of late and hopefully that run will continue at Gay Meadow."
Chester won the reverse fixture at the Deva Stadium 2-1 last August, with Phil Bolland registering a last-gasp winner.
City are expected to retain the side who defeated Exeter City 3-2 last Saturday, with the league's leading scorer Daryl Clare looking for his 30th goal of the campaign.
CHESTER CITY: (from) Turner, Woods, Heard, Guyett, Bolland, Collins, McIntyre, Carey, Carden, Twiss, Davies, Clare, Stamp, Elam, Smith, Lane, Rapley, Harris.
