WREXHAM manager Denis Smith has fresh defensive woes following Tuesday's LDV Vans Trophy exit at Blackpool.

Central defender Dennis Lawrence picked up a hamstring strain at Bloomfield Road and, together with twisted ankle victim Paul Warhurst, is rated extremely doubtful for the weekend trip to Bristol Rovers.

And the versatile Dean Bennett, who has played both as a wing-back and a striker in recent weeks, also picked up an ankle injury that seems likely to rule him out of contention.

Wrexham had already lost the services of on-loan Paul Linwood, recalled by his club Tranmere Rovers at the beginning of the week, and the Dragons boss anticipates having only 13 fully-fit senior play-ers in for training today.

Defender Lee Roche, who underwent a hernia operation in August, and Matty Crowell, sidelined by a knee injury since July, both played in a friendly against Crewe at Colliers Park yesterday, but are still a couple of weeks away from a return to league action.

"We're up against it again," said Smith.. "I'm down to two central defenders in Dave Bayliss and Andy Holt, who in reality is a full-back, and we've got two away games coming up.

"We've lost Dean Bennett, who gives me cover in two positions, and I thought Simon Spender struggled a bit towards the end of Tuesday night's game. He's a kid and two games in a few days took its toll, especially as he too has not had a lot of football."

Wrexham finished Tuesday's game with Spender, Danny Williams, Andy Holt and Alex Smith at the back of a 4-3-3 formation and the Racecourse boss is loath to repeat the exercise at Bristol.

"They were all over the shop at times and, while the system gave us something extra going forward, it's not what we know," he added. "To change things as we did you need players who can adapt very quickly.

"They might have them at Chelsea but we certainly don't have them here, so it's not as easy to change as some people might believe. I'd have two days now to coach the lads to do their job and even if that goes well on the training field, there's no saying what will happen during the pressure of a game."

Smith was relieved to see Roche and Crowell back in competitive mood but does not want to rush them unnecessarily.

"They each need at least one more reserve game, which should happen next week and we'll see how they cope with that," he said. "Matty was full-on in today's run-out but Lee took it sensibly and walked through the game and we'll give them as much time as they need."