One of the lowest points of Torquay United’s season so far was the FA Trophy defeat last month at Worthing. The Gulls lost 5-1 there on January 4 after Paul Wotton rested some players and then probably regretted it.

At that time Worthing were below the Gulls in the National League South table - but that has switched about since, and today Torquay go to West Sussex to take on a team in good form, and who are second in the table with a game in hand on the Gulls.

After Torquay got back to winning ways with that 2-0 home win against Eastbourne Borough on Saturday, this game is another tough-as-you-like six pointer. Talking after the Eastbourne game, which was a hard slog but won with late goals by Sam Dreyer and Omar Mussa, Wotton said that performance must be the least he should expect from now on.

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“Whatever happens and whatever goes on this season, wherever we end up - we don’t know, really - that’s the bare minimum,” said Wotton. “You know I am their harshest critic, but I will praise them more than anyone as well, because they are my boys - and I love them to bits. Last week we came off those standards, this week they were back.

“That’s what you get with a new team, that’s what you get with young players. They deserve all the accolades they get tonight. We have got to recover and get ready for arguably the toughest away game in the league, which we are buzzing for - we are looking forward to it.”

Torquay were without defenders Jordan Dyer and Jay Foulston, attacking midfielder Will Jenkins Davies, and striker Manny Ilesanmi at the weekend. For this one, only Jenkins Davies is in with a shout. Jordan Young came through an injury to play on Saturday but looked to be struggling when he came off. Might he be a doubt again?

Worthing (58 points) are one place below current leaders Dorking Wanderers (59) with four teams, including fifth-placed Torquay, on 55 points below the top two. It is still so tight at the top, with Truro City (53) and Weston-super-Mare (51) also in the chase.

Working beat Tonbridge Angels 2-1 away on Saturday and are currently on a run of five National South wins on the trot. They were last beaten in the league on November 26 when Farnborough did them 1-0 in Hampshire. They are one of the form teams in the division and they are going to be dangerous. But Torquay beat them 2-1 at home in October, when they fought back to win with goals from Mussa and Foulston.

Their manager Chris Agutter said: “It’s exciting, we have got to enjoy it. We know Torquay are going to bring massive support. It’s a massive football club. We know they will be coming to Woodside with a bit of a bee in their bonnet following the FA Trophy. And we know it’s going to be a very tough game.

“They are up there for a reason. They are one of the best teams we have played all season so we know it’s going to be a hell of a game.”