Blues boss Steve Burr has challenged his players to prove they are good enough to remain in the Skill Premier against fellow strugglers Southport tonight (7.45pm).
Both sides are locked in a battle against relegation and will lock horns at the Swansway Chester Stadium in a game unlikely to be for the faint-hearted.
While the hosts have suffered back-to-back losses, the Sandgrounders will be buoyed by a 4-1 win over Macclesfield Town on Saturday that lifted them out of the bottom four.
Burr took charge in mid-January and guided Chester to five wins and two draws from his first 10 games in charge, he;ping them move six points clear of the relegation zone.
But defeats to Aldershot Town and Alfreton Town have allowed the chasing pack to close the gap and defeat tonight would put them in even greater danger.
Losing loan star Matty Taylor has left the Blues short on firepower and Burr has now brought in experienced striker Danny Carlton on an emergency loan from relegated Hyde.
Leeds-born Carlton, 30, made his name in non-league Morecambe, scoring the goal that won the Shrimps promotion to the Football League, and has played for Carlisle United, Darlington, Bury and Grimsby.
He joined Hyde in August and has scored once in 23 appearances for the Tigers.
Burr will be without defender Ross Killock tonight after the Leeds United youngster suffered a torn hamstring in the 1-0 loss to Alfreton on Saturday.
Killock, who has been one of the club's top performers, will be out for about three weeks.
Midfielder Jason Jarrett, whose physical presence has been missed, returns having missed the last three games through suspension for his red card in the 3-3 draw with Nuneaton Town.
Burr could well switch to 4-4-2 tonight, partnering Carlton with Gareth Seddon in attack and moving John Rooney out wide. Left back Ricky Bridge could also come into contention for a starting berth.
Burr said: "We'll pick what we've got available and it'll be up to the lads then. They've got to show that they are good enough to play at this level and if we see that then we'll be okay.
"They've done well to a point, we've had some good performances but it's no good looking and saying we've done that. It's about the next game and performing in the next game.
"That's what you've got to do. You've got to keep proving that you are good enough."
Southport hosted the Blues at the Merseyrail Community Stadium on Boxing Day with the game ending in a goalless draw.
Chester created the better chances in that game with striker Jamie Reed - now with Australian club South Melbourne - blasting over when clean through in stoppage time.
Manager John Coleman has brought in a number of new faces since replacing Alan Wright in December.
His side have won four home games in a row to claw themselves out of the drop zone but have not won away since beating Hyde 2-1 on August 13 and have picked up one point from their last six away games.
Ahead of tonight's game, Coleman said: "We’ll go there looking for the win, I’m sure they will be as well and it should be a really good game.
“I’m hoping lots of Southport fans make the trip and I hope we can reward them with a performance and a result."
