Paddy Davitt King's Lynn boss Keith Webb aims to end a rollercoaster week on a high in today's Southern League, Premier Division promotion clash at Chippenham.Lynn's young guns clinched a league cup semi final berth on Tuesday but defender Mark Warren's long term knee injury soured the club's preparations ahead of a testing league trip to Hardenhuish Park.

Paddy Davitt

King's Lynn boss Keith Webb aims to end a rollercoaster week on a high in today's Southern League, Premier Division promotion clash at Chippenham.

Lynn's young guns clinched a league cup semi final berth on Tuesday but defender Mark Warren's long term knee injury soured the club's preparations ahead of a testing league trip to Hardenhuish Park.

Webb yesterday pulled out of a move for a ready made football league replacement with skipper Warren (torn cartlidge) set to miss up to eight weeks.

Charlie Defty is poised to partner Greg Crane in central defence against the Bluebirds as Webb puts his faith in a tried and tested formula.

“The paperwork was all in place but he wanted a little more time - so I decided to pull the plug,” said Webb. “That's it on that one. We won't be going back in but we're still working on bringing in someone before next week.

“First and foremost it's a blow for Wazza. He's now waiting on the PFA to dot the i's and cross the t's before he can have the operation. From my point of view these things happen. You have to deal with it. It's a test for the squad but I feel we are good enough to cope with it.”

Webb is yet to decide who leads the side out in Warren's extended absence with recent stand in Crane set to miss next week's match against Halesowen through suspension.

“I have to look at it,” admitted Webb. “It's a whole different kettle of fish from doing it for just a couple of games and then being club captain for a longer period.”

Lynn's boss refuses to rule the fourth-placed Bluebirds out of the title race.

“They will feel if they can beat us then they are right in it,” said Webb. “There's still so many matches to go. We're a long way off relying on other results. We still have to play each other so it's in our own hands.

“I expect a battle royale because they have been scoring goals for fun recently. We know they will be flying and we need to be competitive and determined. The lads are more than capable of getting a result.

“For the majority of our away games I've got no complaints with how we've performed. We've just been guilty of a lack of concentration at key times but we're not far from putting that right.”

Midfielder Steve Melton steps up his injury comeback in the reserves. Shaun Carey should also feature for the second string with his proposed Northern Premier loan move put on hold.

Danny Buhlemann has been drafted into the first team squad after a commanding centre half display in the midweek cup win over Rugby.

Webb also revealed impressive youngster Seamus Kelleher did his first team chances no harm with another starring league cup role.

“He's done himself a lot of favours,” said Webb. “I'd have no qualms about putting him in for the odd game but he's just got a job down in London. I don't know how that will play out in terms of his availability. The ball is in his court.”

King's Lynn (from): Howie, West, Chapman, Buhlemann, Crane, Camm, Fisk, Frew, Turner, Sedgemore, J Defty, Bloomfield, Nolan, Francis, Murray, C Defty.