SWINDON Town are hopeful that skipper Olly Lancashire could be available for tomorrow's crunch League Two trip to Newport County despite the defender limping out of Tuesday night's home draw with Yeovil.

Lancashire, who has missed much of the second half of the season with what Phil Brown described as a "career-threatening'' spinal problem, made back-to-back starts in the last two games against Carlisle United and Yeovil Town, but was withdrawn in the second half of the midweek 2-2 draw.

The 29-year-old has also suffered with a calf problem, Brown confirming this morning that was the issue that had flared up against the Glovers.

However, the Town boss remains hopeful that Lancashire will be fit for the trip to Wales, as the visitors seek a much-needed win to maintain their play-off hopes.

"Olly Lancashire limped out of the game on Tuesday night, he felt his calf tightening up. Fingers crossed he can train today,'' said Brown, who confirmed that both Luke Norris and Kellan Gordon would be missing having recently suffered dislocated shoulders.

"Chris Hussey has some stiffness in the groin, if that comes clear he can play tomorrow.

"Both Luke Norris and Kellan Gordon are unavailable. Matty Preston will be on the training ground today, but not with a view to playing tomorrow."

Brown is well aware of the significance of the clash with County, who are stranded in mid-table and unlikely to make an impact on the promotion race before the end of the campaign.

"A win after four draws becomes more of a must-win because of those draws,'' added the Town boss. "We have got enough quality to win games of football. Our game-plan is to get the three points."

"Newport will be hostile. The substance and character will be tested more than the quality. The technical side of the team is of good quality.

"Newport are very direct, they hit the strikers early but hopefully the pressure we'll be putting on will help to stop that. That's the game-plan, closing down from the front.

"They know how to utilise the home pitch. If we want to play some football tomorrow we'll have to be in their half."

"The technical side of the team is of high quality, now we have substance out of the treatment room hopefully that character will get us over the line."

"The game tomorrow is about second balls, there's no doubt about that. Dunny (James Dunne) is very well versed in that and the experienced of (Marc) Richards and (Matt) Taylor should be enough to get us those second balls."

MORE FROM THIS MORNING'S TOWN PRESS CALL WITH BROWN AND MATT TAYLOR HERE AT SWINDONADVERTISER.CO.UK/SPORT AND IN TOMORROW'S SWINDON ADVERTISER