Bath City boss Adie Britton is tipping tomorrow's opponents AFC Wimbledon to contend for a place in the Football League next year.

Terry Brown's team are six points clear and favourites for the Blue Square South title having risen from the ashes of the old Dons club.

But Britton is backing his side's tendency to raise themselves against better opposition, having already won at fellow high-fliers Chelmsford City this term.

Britton said: "They are an in-form side and at the moment they look in danger of running away with it, and a while ago the only side we thought could do that was Chelmsford.

"We had them watched on Tuesday at Hayes and Yeading and the game before against Chelmsford and we know they are very, very good and I am sure they will be in the Premier next year and on the verge of the Football League.

"But we had a very decent game agains them at home when we drew 2-2 and they only equalised late on."

If Bath are to pull off an upset they will have to do so without goalkeeper Paul Evans and winger Ali Gibb.

Evans had hoped to be back in action around now after autumn knee surgery. But he is now booked in to see specialist Jonathan Webb, ex-Bath and England rugby star, after complications.

"We have to see whether it needs looking at again or if he can play through it," said Britton. "But Steve Perrin has been excellent and has shown he is a top rate keeper. We have had some very good results with him in the team."

Former Bristol Rovers wideman Gibb joined Southern Premier side Yate Town on loan for 28 days in a bid to regain fitness after missing much of the season with a broken ankle.

However, Britton is definitely not writing off Gibb's campaign. He said: "The plan is for him to come back for the last two months of the season fully match fit and ready for the business end of it.

"We were trying to get him fit by bringing him on as sub but that just wasn't working."

Midfielder Scott Rogers has extended his loan at Conference South rivals Newport County for another month although Britton can and will recall him at short notice if he is needed.

Team Bath head coach Andy Tillson is hoping centre half and captain Gary Warren will be fit for tomorrow's home game with Basingstoke.

The Scholars have gone two-and-a-half weeks without a game, giving the former Mangotsfield man a chance to get over an ankle problem.

Goalkeeper Darren Chitty is hampered by a groin complaint so former Birmingham trainee Jake Meredith will continue between the posts.