WREXHAM manager Denis Smith hopes the element of surprise can help the Dragons get back on form after their TV nightmare.

Smith was fuming after Saturday's 4-1 FA Cup capitulation at Yeovil and has promised changes for tonight's trip to Blackpool.

Although the Dragons boss is keeping his cards close to his chest, it is believed that for the encounter at Bloomfield Road:

* OUT will go striker Chris Armstrong, rested after playing two games in three days.

* LEFT-BACK Shaun Holmes will miss the trip with a groin strain, while Paul Edwards is also out, due to a family bereavement. Stephen Thomas looks likely to step in on the right, with Carlos Edwards switching to the left.

* MIDFIELDER Paul Barrett is likely to start, with either Chris Llewellyn or Lee Jones dropping to the bench.

* CRAIG MORGAN is expected to replace Brian Carey in the centre of defence.

Reflecting on Saturday's defeat, Smith said yesterday: "It was one bad performance, but we have to recover.

"That means doing well for the rest of the season and proving to the people who watched the game on television that we're a good side.

"Chris (Armstrong) will be rested. He's already played too many games since coming back. I want to think about a fully fit Chris Armstrong come May. What an asset he will be then.

"If I have him in the squad, it would be too tempting to put him on at some stage."

The other big change could see Craig Morgan returning in the centre of defence. It's a big season for the 18-year-old, who many tipped to become a mainstay in the side once he got an extended run.

"He would have been but for injury," said Smith. "Brian (Carey) has done terrific for me and perhaps I made a mistake in taking him off on Saturday.

"We'll just have to wait and see about tonight. There will be changes. I don't want to tell Blackpool what my team is, especially as there's a few things different in it.

"I'd like the fans to keep guessing. Then when they see my teamsheet, they can discuss whether I'm right or wrong."

Opponents Blackpool have won their last three games - including following Wrexham's example by beating Sheffield Wednesday at Hillsborough - while the Dragons have lost their last three.

Smith added: "Of course, I'd like to have played them when we were flying, but that's football."