HAD the television executives had a bit more time to pick the Football League fixtures to show live this weekend when international action takes over then John Coleman believes Stanley could have been stars of the small screen.

Instead the decision to show Barnet v Coventry and Gillingham v Portsmouth was made many weeks ago, before the Reds and Saturday's visitors to the Wham Stadium Luton Town emerged as two of the most entertaining sides in the division.

Stanley and the Hatters have plundered 42 goals between them so far this season and both like to be on the front foot, and Coleman is predicting an engrossing encounter as third face fifth in League Two.

"If they were picking the games for TV now it might of made it," the Reds boss said. "I think it will be an entertaining game because of the way they play, they commit men forward, they’re a good side and they score goals, as we do.

"Historically we play better against the fancied teams. If you look at the Carlisle and Mansfield games we won both of them, then the teams that other people might not perceive as challengers in Grimsby and Cheltenham we’ve struggled against.

"We know every game we play is going to be difficult in this league, we had that on Saturday against Forest Green.

"We like these games because there’s a good atmosphere, Luton will bring a big travelling support and it makes us exciting, and I think it possibly brings out another couple of percent in our players. It gets them a bit more up for it."

Coleman is hoping for a bumper Wham Stadium crowd, with neutrals keen to get their football fix heading to Stanley.

"When we get it right and there’s a big crowd it’s pleasing all round," he said. "We lost this fixture last year, I’m still scratching my head how and at the margin of defeat.

"We know all about Luton and they’ll know all about us, but I hope we can get back to attacking, making chances, having shots and outnumbering the opposition with possession."

Luton were beaten in the play-offs last year but have recovered to mount what looks like being another promotion tilt this time around, although Coleman believes they will be under pressure to achieve that aim.

"It’s a different scenario for them because they’re expected to be up there, they’ve got one of the biggest budgets in the league," he said.

"That adds a certain pressure to the manager and the players. I think they’ve done well, they had a little blip midway through last season which derailed them from going up automatically, but on their day they’re as good as any team in the league."