Boss John Hill: Halesowen Town are massive underdogs for No.9 Derby

The rock-bottom Yeltz have won just two of their 14 matches in the Evo-Stik Premier so far this season, the worst being a 5-1 thumping by Workington on Saturday.

And though they bounced back to earn a point at play-off-chasing Barwell on Tuesday thanks to Jack Kelly’s 71st-minute equaliser, Hill knows the Glassboys represent an even tougher test.

“Everybody will tell you that form goes out the window in derby games, it’s been said a thousand times, but the facts are that we are at different ends of the table and different ends of the financial spectrum,” said Hill. “They are expected to roll us over.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game, but we’ll give it our best shot.

“They are riding high in the table and putting together another FA Cup run. That seems to have become the norm for them now and you have to give Gary (Hackett, Stourbridge boss) and his staff massive respect for that.”

Influential midfielder Lee Chilton and striker Luke Shearer have this week departed The Grove by mutual consent as they seek out new challenges and Halesowen seek to pull away from the foot of the table, which they are rooted to with nine points – two adrift of Rushall Olympic.

“We are looking to improve the squad and bring new people in,” added Hill. “We can’t keep putting the same team in week in, week out, or we will stay where we are.

“That’s not pointing the finger at those two (Shearer and Chilton) – it was as much their decision to leave as it was ours.”