FOREST Green manager Dave Hockaday expects star striker Reece Styche to play again this season.

Styche has been out of action since September with knee cartilage damage, a cruel sabbatical which began shortly after he had spurned the advances of Luton Town to sign a new three-year contract at Rovers.

Luton are the visitors to the New Lawn in the Blue Square Bet Premier (3pm), and Styche will be again be confined to a watching brief as he steps up his rehabilitation from surgery.

Neither he nor Hockaday will be cutting any corners on the comeback trail – particularly with the team safely ensconced in a mid-table position with 15 games remaining.

But the Rovers boss is confident the 22-year-old marksman will get a chance to add to his six goals in nine matches this term.

Hockaday said: "We would never rush any player back after an operation, regardless of who he is or the situation we're in as a team.

"But Reece is fortunate to be working with some of the best medical people around, and all the reports I've had is that he is progressing very well.

"Do we expect to have him back before the end of the season? I'm pretty confident we will.

"He has been working extremely hard in the gym and it could be that he is back training with the group within four weeks."

The postponement of Tuesday's match at Kettering Town means Hockaday's side have been out of competitive action for a fortnight.

An early call-off at Nene Park did at least give Hockaday the chance to join volunteers in placing germination sheeting over the New Lawn pitch – an innovative attempt to beat the big freeze – but tomorrow's game is again at risk.

Supporters will be desperate to see some action, particularly with a Rovers legend in the Luton ranks in the shape of Stuart Fleetwood.

The Gloucester-born forward scored 36 goals in 50 games during the 2007/08 season, helping the Nailsworth outfit to a record eighth-placed Conference finish.

That achievement is very much in the sights of Hockaday's current vintage, although he is loath to look beyond the test posed by the third-placed Hatters.

"I know I sound like a broken record but our sole focus is winning the next game," said Hockaday.

"Our first target in any season is 50 points, and the fact that we've accrued 42 from 31 games represents decent progress.

"I've already said we'll be aiming to win every game from here and we'll see where we end up."

As on Tuesday, Hockaday must do without Chris Todd, Curtis McDonald, Al Bangura, James Rowe and Kieron Forbes as well as Styche due to injuries.

Goalkeeper Sam Russell (thigh) will be given a late fitness test.