TO more than a thousand fans, tonight's showdown between Bath City and Chippenham is the highlight of the non-League calendar. To Bluebirds boss Steve White it's just another stepping stone to silverware.

The in-form Southern League leaders will arrive at Twerton Park before a crowd well into four figures this evening.

The horde of visiting supporters will be praying for a first win over the arch enemy since the clubs were united in the Premier Division more than two and a half years ago.

Recent form suggests that is the probable outcome but White is playing down the hype and merely hoping his side maintain their unbeaten start to 2005.

"It's a local derby and for some people it's the biggest game of the season," he said.

"We've won 10 and draw two of our games since the turn of the year and we just want to maintain that run."

And with Bath languishing in the bottom half of the table White believes the pressure is on the hosts if they harbour any ambitions of promotion via the play-offs.

He added: "Bath have aspirations of getting in the play-offs and they are going to have to put a run of results together very soon to do that.

"They are one of the biggest non-League clubs in the country and expectation will always be massive there. My only hopes is that I have 14 fit players."

White's concern follows a bruising battle with King's Lynn on Saturday.

Former Bath winger Scott Walker took a heavy knock on the ankle and seems set to miss a reunion with his old club. Likewise Gary Horgan who is suspended, though Ben Kirk should recover from a hamstring strain in time to play.

Another glaring absence is Martin Paul who rejoined Bath from Chippenham last week.

As part of the deal the Bluebirds insisted Paul would not participate in fixtures between the clubs this season.