Defender Magnus Okuonghae has urged Crawley to secure Conference survival as quickly as possible.

Reds travel to Okuonghae's old club St Albans tomorrow seven points clear of the danger zone following a five-match unbeaten league run.

Joint caretaker boss John Yems has targeted five wins from the remaining 15 games to safeguard another season in non-league's top flight.

And after experiencing relegation from the Football League with Rushden last season, Okuonghae is desperate to get them sooner rather than later.

He said: "No one wants to be battling it out all the way until the end of the season. If we can pick up results now, we will not be able to take our foot off the pedal but it would take some pressure off us and we could enjoy our football more.

"Now there is a lot of pressure on our games. We are handling it well but obviously you would rather have less pressure and be able to go out and express yourself."

He added: "St Albans are a good side and we will have to give them a lot of respect but we can't worry about anyone else.

"We are on a good run but no one really talks about it in the dressing room, we just know we need to win every game because of how tight it is down the bottom of the table.

"We were in a similar position last year at Rushden so I know for a fact that we have to keep plugging away and don't worry about anyone behind us. We just need to beat them and leave them there."

Okuonghae is relishing the chance to help Crawley take another step to safety against his former team-mates.

He arrived at Reds last month having made 20 appearances for the Hertfordshire club this season.

He says Crawley's full-time status and close proximity to his Croydon home were the reasons he left relegationthreatened Saints.

The 20-year-old said: "At times I enjoyed it at St Albans but it was hard because it was part-time and, coming from full-time last season, I found it difficult to adapt."

While Crawley strengthened their squad during the January transfer window with six new signings, St Albans saw their bid to beat the drop take a blow. As well as Okuonghae, they lost Elliot Benyon to Reds after the young striker ended a prolific loan spell to sign until the end of the season at Broadfield Stadium from Bristol City.

They are also reeling from the departures of striker Paul Hakim and defender Damian Batt to neighbours Stevenage last week. They brought in one new face, French defender Faly Mammadou Basse.

Benyon, who scored six goals in 12 appearances during three months at Saints, is likely to be on the bench tomorrow after returning from suspension as striker Marcus Richardson keeps his place following a successful first start in last week's 3-1 win over Forest Green. Fit-again Lloyd Blackman could start on the right wing in place of Lee Blackburn, who starts a three-match suspension following his red card against Green.

Midfielder Scott Marshall serves the last game of a similar ban and Steve Evans has a one-match ban.