Newport County will meet Margate at home in the fourth round of the FA Trophy - if they overcome Worcester City tonight at St George's Lane (7.45pm).

The Exiles travel to Worcester in their rescheduled third match sweating on the fitness of tough-tackling midfielder Nathan Davies.

The 20-year-old hobbled off at half-time in the Boxing Day Dr Martens Premier League clash between the two clubs with a back injury - but after manipulation treatment he could make a quicker than expected return tonight.

Welsh semi-pro international Davies would not have made the original showdown on Saturday, which was postponed until today due to a frozen pitch, but the delay has given him a chance and he'll undergo a late-fitness test.

And Worcester have this morning confirmed that tonight's game will definitely go-ahead after a pitch inspection.

Versatile Jeff Eckhardt, though, is available for selection by Exiles boss Peter Nicholas who is trying to guide Newport to the fourth round of this competition for the first time.

Eckhardt, a defender by trade, has been used a targetman up-front by Nicholas because he is still without ten-goal striker Neil Davis, who has a knee ligament problem.

But young winger Richard French is available for selection again after a ten-week lay-off with injuries to an ankle and Achilles tendon.

Worcester slipped-up against County in their league meeting at Newport Stadium on Boxing Day but are unbeaten since, lifting them to the summit of the table. County themselves are on a good run of form, winning their last three league games.

Newport County (from): P Mountain, C Collins, S Benton, A Thomas, B Clark, R Ashington, M Rose (c), M Fowler, R Plant, G Shephard, J Eckhardt, A Stevenson, G Jones, N Davies, S Walker, T Hart, J Dupres