TAUNTON Town head of football Rob Dray said Jamie Short is “100 per cent” pushing to start for the Peacocks on Saturday after he bagged a hat-trick against Paulton Rovers in midweek.

The midfielder’s three goals came in a losing cause - a young Taunton side exiting the Challenge Cup with a 6-3 defeat - but Dray said: “He played well, and has shown a great reaction to being on the bench in recent weeks.”

Dray also hopes to have Nick Grimes and Andrew Neal fit for the match, after both picked up injuries last weekend.

Loanees Harry Kite (from Exeter City) and Ryley Towler (Bristol City) could also feature.

Taunton have extended Owen Windsor’s loan from West Bromwich Albion for another month and, crucially, tied down Kite until the end of the season.

Saturday (3pm) sees the fifth-placed Peacocks visit Yate Town, who are 20th in the Premier South table but beat Taunton 4-0 in August’s reverse fixture.

“It’s a tough place to go, and they’re scrapping [to stay up],” Dray added.

“We have to show up, dig in, and cut out the scruffy goals we’ve been conceding.”

Elsewhere this weekend, Wellington - second from bottom in the table - visit Chipping Sodbury Town in a six-pointer at the foot of the Toolstation Western League Premier Division.

In the First Division, Bishops Lydeard host table-topping Longwell Green Sports (3pm).