THE MATCH: The top two face off at the Len Salmon Stadium with Bowers & Pitsea tonight bidding to close the gap to seven points at the summit.

The Urchins and Bowers have led the automatic promotion charge for several months now but Bowers will be feeling the heat from Potters Bar Town who are just three points behind and with a game in hand.

But with eight games remaining Bowers will be determined not to relinquish their hold on second place.

A 2-0 defeat at Barking on Tuesday came as a blow to Bowers and they will not want to lose more ground against the division’s leaders.

Hornchurch have lost just one of the last seven league matches.

THE INSIGHT: “It is a perfect game for us,” said Bowers boss Rob Small. “We have been under pressure in recent weeks and we face the fact that we are a scalp for some teams. We need to overcome that.

“Hornchurch are destined to win the league and we won’t be expected to get a result.

Any points that we get will be a bonus. They have been brushing teams aside and I want to see a performance from us and see what comes from that.

“I think every game for us is important but there is more pressure to win against other teams. Potters Bar, Canvey and Haringey are all in with a shout.

“Against Barking we just weren’t good enough. They fought a bit harder and gained an extra inch in all the one-on-one battles.

“This week was a down and we need to get back on it.”

THE TEAM NEWS: John Easterford and Lewis Clark remain sidelined.