GREAT Wakering Rovers will be vying to keep their play-off dreams alive when they take on Cambridge City tomorrow.

Wakering, who have been challenging for a place in the top five for the majority of the Isthmian North season, now find themselves nine points adrift of the final play-off spot.

And Wakering will surely need to bag all three points when Cambridge visit Burroughs Park if they are to remain in contention for promotion this term.

Wakering have been one of the division’s surprise packages with Steve Butterworth enjoying his first full season in management.

But Wakering’s play-off push hit the buffers in midweek.

Having not been in action last weekend, it was important that Wakering got points on the board to remain in the chasing pack.

However, a 1-0 defeat to neighbours Basildon United, thanks to a second half Joe Paxman strike, means Wakering go into the weekend sitting 10th in the standings.

The loss proved to be particularly costly as Wakering finished the contest with nine men.

Jack Stevenson was given his marching orders after just 36 minutes, leaving his side to play with a numerical disadvantage for close to an hour.

And, in the dying moments, goalkeeper Bobby Mason was also dismissed.

However, Stevenson and Mason will be in contention to feature tomorrow as their suspensions do not come into effect until next week.

Alex Stephenson, the former Canvey Island central defender, will hope to build on his debut.