DEFIANT Clitheroe player manager Lee Sculpher is hoping to silence the Mossley boo-boys tonight.

The Blues travel to take on their UniBond First Division rivals in the league's Challenge Cup first round tonight (kick-off 7.45pm).

Sculpher is expecting the usual heated exchanges that a clash with Mossley often throws up.

But he is confident his players can rise above the tension.

"They can be quite bad tempered games with Mossley and there has been a bit of friction in the past," Sculpher said.

"The Mossley home support is very vocal. But, that said, it can be good to play in that type of atmosphere because it spurs you on.

"I'd sooner have people screaming and shouting abuse at me than people saying nothing at all.

"You can have a little bit of banter with the fans and point out when you've done the right things."

And Sculpher is looking forward to the chance to take a break from the pressures of the league.

"It's a good test for us tonight because our form's improved in the last couple of weeks and Mossley have had a pretty decent start to the season as well," he said.

"The good thing about the cup is that it gives you a bit of an outlet in the way you go about the game.

"In the league, we are desperate for points - even at this stage of the season.

"But in the cup we can go out and enjoy it a little bit more because it can't be our priority this season.

"It may be later on if we progress in it but, first and foremost, because of our current league position, we've got to ensure we get more points in the bag."

He added: "It's going to be a difficult game at Mossley.

"We've come across them quite a lot over the years, when they've tended to be top of the table clashes or cup finals.

"One consolation is that whoever gets beat is still in a cup competition as they filter down to the President's Cup, so in a way we're in a no lose situation."