Blues coach Jon McCarthy has a fair idea what to expect when second-bottom Alfreton Town come to the Swansway Chester Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Even in the rough and tumble of the Vanarama Conference, Alfreton standout as tough and combative opponents. a team in the mould of manager Nicky Law.

Reds boss Law reckons the 4-2 win over promotion hopefuls Torquay United on BT Sport last week proved his side don’t belong in the bottom four.

McCarthy watched that game twice, once on television and once on video, and points out the Gulls were without first choice centre backs Angus MacDonald and Aaron Downs.

Even so he and manager Steve Burr expect a hard game and have spent time this week working on set pieces and preparing for a direct confrontation.

McCarthy said: "Torquay didn’t have their two centre backs so that was a big help for Alfreton.

“It’s very similar to the Telford game because we played them after they’d had a good win over Torquay. It’s almost like Torquay are going around giving teams a lift before we play them.

“We know what Alfreton will be and they will be 4-4-2 and direct so that’s what we have been working on in training."

Law had a challenging summer with the club being put up for sale and cuts to his budget before the FA slapped him with a six-game stadium ban.

He could do little to prevent his side starting with seven straight losses but returned to oversee a four-match unbeaten run.

Another four defeats brought the resurgence to a halt but the win over Torquay has given Law the belief his side can start climbing the table.

“It was a good performance against Torquay,” said Law.

“We proved we are not a bottom four side, but we have not proved that often enough this season and we now have to be far more consistent over the last two thirds of the campaign.

“We have got to recapture the level of the Torquay display, and if we do, we will be okay.”

Alfreton finished 11th last term but that would have been much higher had the Reds form not tailed off towards the end.

Both meetings between the clubs last season ended in 1-0 wins for the away side.

Jamie Reed secured all three points for the Blues at the Impact Arena last October and Shaun Harrad got the only goal at the Swansway Chester Stadium in March.

Law will be without full back Dan Gray after a groin problem forced him off last weekend but has no other fitness concerns.

Law said: “It’s another game, against another team that is not too far away from us, it’s maybe something of a six pointer if you like.

“It’s a game where both teams will fancy their chances of winning.”

Chester have a full squad to choose from apart from Matty Brown (calf) and Wayne Riley (hamstring).

Top scorer Craig Hobson, who came off the bench in the 2-0 loss at Dover Athletic last week, has recovered from his hamstring problem and could partner Matty Hughes up front.