FOREST Green captain Paul Stonehouse will be confined to the stands again for tonight's huge clash with Chester City at the New Lawn (7.45pm).

The left-back has failed to recover from the calf strain which kept him out of Saturday's defeat at AFC Wimbledon, a result which left his side two points adrift of the Blue Square Premier safety line.

Crisis club Chester are certainties for the drop, marooned at the foot of the table on minus-three points following sanctions for financial irregularities.

But Stonehouse admits he will be a nervous spectator for what surely ranks as a must-win fixture.

"I don't like missing any games, but it's even more frustrating to be injured at this stage of the season when there is so much at stake," said Stonehouse.

"My calf went in training last week and I think I've torn a few fibres, so there is no way I can play (tonight) and it's looking doubtful for the Kidderminster game on Saturday.

"I would much rather be out there helping the lads, as it's a game we really have to win, but I'm sure we can do it with the players we've got available.

"It should be the perfect game after Saturday and I think it's good that we're playing again so quickly."

Rovers never recovered from a shocking start against the Dons, in which they conceded twice in the first 10 minutes.

Their spirited response against play-off chasing opponents was cause for some encouragement, but the worrying reality is that Dave Hockaday's men have shipped 11 goals in their last four league matches.

Stonehouse said: "We need to get back to the way we were defending around Christmas time

"Maybe the pressure of the games is leading to individual mistakes, and it doesn't help that the back four keeps changing because of injuries.

"But we've definitely got the players to tighten things up. I'm confident we're not bad enough to go down."

Tonight's clash could have been a reunion for Stonehouse with former manager Jim Harvey, who joined Chester in October following his sacking by Rovers last summer.

But the Ulsterman lasted only three months at the Deva Stadium, despite overseeing an upturn in results, as Morell Maison was controversially appointed director of football.

Maison will be conducting affairs from the away dugout tonight, and he must somehow motivate a squad who have repeatedly foregone their wages this term.

For Rovers, Stonehouse will be joined on the sidelines by long-term absentees Lee Ayres (groin), Mike Fowler (ankle) and Steve Davies (hernia).