PAUL Cox is hopeful central defender Steve Williams will come through a fitness test on his Achilles to face Torquay on Saturday.

The Barrow AFC man is set to take the place of Danny Livesey in the back-four should he be able.

Livesey's season was ended by a grade one hamstring tear picked up in the 0-0 draw at Kidderminster last weekend.

Williams has been unable to play a part in recent matches after being hurt in the warm-up against Macclesfield Two a fortnight ago.

The Achilles problem has prevented him for stepping in when both Ritchie Sutton – now back with parent club Tranmere after his own season-ending hamstring issue – and Livesey have picked up knocks.

Should Williams not make it through to face Torquay, Cox will have problems selecting a back four, but he is optimistic the former Bradford City man – who celebrates his 29th birthday on Sunday – will make it.

“We're hoping Steve will come through,” said Cox. “The signs are good, but we don't want to put any pressure on Steve. We've got to make sure he is 100 per cent fit.

“We're hoping he is, because otherwise it leaves us a little bit threadbare. It's something we've got to deal with – we will put a team out there and try and win a football match.”