Cheltenham v Hereford preview

Team news ahead of Saturday's League Two clash between Cheltenham Town and Hereford United at Whaddon Road.

Cheltenham are sweating on the fitness of Steve Elliott and Marlon Pack for the derby clash against Hereford, but Josh Low comes back into contention. Centre-back Elliott (ankle) and midfielder Pack (groin) both hobbled out of last weekend's 1-1 draw at Morecambe. The pair "have a chance of being fit" according to manager Mark Yates, who will hand them fitness tests as late as possible. Winger Low has trained all week having missed the last three games with a hamstring strain and comes back into Yates' thoughts for the first of six home games in Town's next seven matches - a crucial period which will almost certainly define their promotion push. Yates has seen his side flatter to deceive at Whaddon Road this term, losing their last three home games and winning just one of their previous six. And he is hoping for a change of fortunes as Hereford make the short trip to Gloucestershire. Defender Andy Gallinagh (double hernia operation) is scheduled to resume training in the next two weeks. Michael Townsend misses out on an emotional return to Cheltenham as Hereford go in search of derby bragging rights. The centre-back spent six years with Town, making almost 150 appearances, before being released at the end of last season and subsequently signing a deal with Hereford. But his red card for a second bookable offence in Tuesday's 2-2 draw with Macclesfield means he now serves a one-match suspension. Young striker Waide Fairhurst is in line for his Bulls debut having completed a month-long loan deal from Doncaster on Thursday afternoon. Otherwise, manager Jamie Pitman is not expected to have any new injury concerns. He made just one change to face Macclesfield - midfielder Kenny Lunt coming in for striker Jake Jervis - and was satisfied with the overall performance apart from Townsend's dismissal and Town's last-gasp equaliser. On-loan midfielder Harry Pell played the final half-hour and impressed, pushing his claims for a starting berth this time around.