A DREAM tie would be facing Accrington Stanley in the final of the Lancashire Marsden Trophy but Clitheroe boss Lee Sculpher knows it will be a big ask to get past UniBond Premier League promotion chasers Barrow first.

The NWCL Division One side travel to Holker Street tonight while Premier side Stanley make the trip to Burscough in the two semi-finals.

"It is going to be difficult, it will be the most difficult game we have had to face even though we have been in other cup competitions and it will be a good test to see how far we have come," said player-boss Sculpher whose side face a home tie against Whitley Bay in the quarter-finals of the FA Vase in March.

"It is the semi-final of a Cup competition and I expect them to field a strong side - although I do hope they field a weakened one! We have had some tough games to get this far - defeating Bacup, Radcliffe and Ramsbottom in the previous games.

"We would love to get to the final but we can't even think about that."

The Blues have proved good travellers this season, having come through three long trips in the FA Vase.

"I guess this is one game where we would have preferred to be at home," admitted the boss. "It would be better if they have to travel and come to our pitch, it might have been a slight advantage.

"But it should be a good playing surface and we will just go out and enjoy it."

Adam Gardner is back after injury but striker Lee Cryer is still injured.

Meanwhile the Reds welcome back Jonathan Smith and Peter Cavanagh in defence after the duo missed the Premier League loss at Runcorn on Saturday through suspension.

Boss John Coleman is now eyeing this piece of silverware - and it also hopeful they will make the final of the UniBond League Cup as well, after reaching the last four of that competition.

"We still want to finish as high up the League as possible but we have slipped down with recent results," admitted the Reds chief, whose side saw off Conference team Leigh in the last round. "So we would love to get to a cup final and we will be up for this.

"We have played Burscough three times this season, we have won two and lost one but Jonathan Smith got sent off in that game so I don't know if we could say the scoreline was a true reflection of that game.

"We know their management and we know a lot of their players. There is a lot of familiarity between the sides and that should make for a good game."