Jack Pearce admits he has no idea how his Bognor side stand up to the pressures of being top of the table.

But he will be happy if they produce the form they showed in midweek as they bid to make it 14 league games unbeaten and maintain their challenge in Ryman division one tomorrow.

Third-placed Walton and Hersham visit a Bognor side whose lead was cut to a single point when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Ford in midweek.

Rocks dominated that game and Pearce said: "If we had put our chances away people would have said it was the perfect performance.

"I was ever so pleased with how we played and the chances we created.

"When you are top of the league they are all big games. Sometimes you are better sitting just off the pace if you have not got great mental strength.

"I don't know whether we have got that strength but we are about to find out.

"Ford made life difficult but I was pleased with how we kept going. We hit the bar, had two goals disallowed and missed five one-on-ones, but last season we would have ended up losing a game like that 1-0."

Matt Russell was guilty of the worst miss, but his header gave Rocks their equaliser and took him to 13 goals for the season. Another success tomorrow will mean he has scored in ten successive league games.

Pearce added: "Matty has done ever so well. I just wish I could find other players who can score so many goals."

Defender Jay Pickering is suspended so Pearce must decide whether to stick with Nicky Wyatt up front or give Guy Rutherford a first start of the campaign.

Simon James is expected to sign for Bognor having left Worthing.

Rebels have also transferred Ben Jones to Horsham and expect Marc Rice to leave the club.

Boss Sammy Donnelly hopes that will be an end to the cost cutting and admitted: "I just want to get on with the football now. We are going along okay but I want us to get some consistency. A run of something like four wins would really set us up."

Gavin Jones (neck) misses the trip to Staines and is replaced by Lee Weston.

Ben Jones is a welcome addition for Horsham after they lost two strikers inside a week.

Boss John Maggs released Jason Lillis and saw Steve Flain join Edgware.

Flain had been with Hornets for three years but was keen to find a club closer to his Stevenage home. Steve Payne and Marcel Dennis miss the division two clash with Marlow.

Lewes will be without Peter Brackley and Paul Thomsett for tomorrow's FA Vase game with Rich City County League side Oakwood but could give a debut to Luke Dowling.

Brackley needs an operation on his wrist while Thomsett is unavailable.

Midfielder Dowling was signed earlier in the season but has yet to make his debut due to a shin injury which required an operation.

Brian Owen brian.owen@theargus.co.uk