IF revenge is a dish best served cold then the recent sub-zero temperatures could be just what the doctor ordered for the Shakers.

Andy Preece's men take on Scunthorpe United on Tuesday night in the LDV Vans Trophy northern area quarter-finals looking to reverse a home defeat earlier in the season.

It was the third Saturday into the new campaign that Brian Laws' side left Gigg Lane full of smiles after a 3-2 win.

The match marked the first league goal of Chris Porter's career and there'd be no better time for the young Shakers' striker - joint leading goalscorer with six - to add to his tally if he shakes off an ankle knock in time for Tuesday night.

"We were well beaten by them back in August when they were the much better side," said Preece.

"But we have improved a lot since then and won't play as poorly as we did that day."

Although they are only a point ahead of the Shakers in the table The Iron have been a difficult team to beat in Division Three this term.

They have lost only four of their 20 league matches and are currently unbeaten in eleven games.

Nevertheless, they will no doubt be stinging from Saturday's FA Cup second round clash against Sheffield Wednesday at Glanford Park.

Two goals from evergreen striker Steve Torpey looked to have booked them a passage into the third round until the Owls hit back with two sucker punches in the dying minutes to level.

With that in mind Preece will be looking to put the opposition on the back foot as early as possible.

Something they didn't do at Hull on Saturday when they went down to a 2-0 defeat.

While the display was an improvement on the previous week's reverse at Macclesfield Preece sensed a worrying lack of belief in the side after they went behind.

"We've come back from two goals down inside three minutes before now so that was disappointing," he said.

"Our crossing was poor, we were turning down chances when we had a chance to shoot and our movement from corners wasn't good in the box.

"If you don't believe in yourself it's not going to happen for you and we should have shown more."

Definitely missing for tonight's game is Gareth Seddon who limped off at Hull after going over on his ankle.

But the striker has responded well to treatment in the last couple of days and may be fit enough for Saturday's derby clash against Rochdale at Gigg Lane.

Should the Shakers progress it would see them through to the same stage they reached last season - the northern area semi-finals.

On that occasion, a 3-2 defeat at Carlisle brought any hopes of a trip to final at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff to an end.

But in that time the team got a taste for the competition and it won't be lost in the corridors of power that the later stages can be quite lucrative.

"We have a good chance," added Preece.

"If we get through tonight there are only two more teams can stop us getting to the final.

"It's a great opportunity for us and one we intend to grasp with both hands."

Preece is likely to add one or two youngsters to the squad that played at Humberside on Saturday with Canadian international Justin Thompson also likely to be recalled after scoring in the previous round against Oldham Athletic.

Scunthorpe look likely to be without influential veteran Peter Beagrie who picked up a toe injury on Saturday.

Meanwhile there are doubts over left back Kevin Sharp (thigh) and skipper Mark Jackson (ankle).