GREAT Harwood and Darwen are preparing themselves for a Boxing Day battle.

The two teams clash at the Interlink Express Stadium on Monday and both managers are ready for an all-action encounter.

Harwood and Darwen are the two form teams in NWCL Division Two but John Hughes and Steve Mullen that counts for nothing when it comes to derby day.

However, Harwood boss Hughes believes he may have a slight advantage over his Darwen counterpart Mullen.

"Derby games are always full-blooded affairs and form guides counts for nothing," said Hughes whose side have won six of their last seven games. "But I think we might have a slight advantage because we have a few players Darwen don't know anything about while I am familiar with all of Steve's players."

Both teams have full squads to chose from and Mullen welcomes back Richard Fogarty, Leigh Smith, Cliff Power and Paddy Lauber who all miss the 5-0 win over New Mills.

He said: "We know exactly what to expect and we'll be ready for it. We are both in good form at the moment and that should just added a little extra spice to a game that was always going to be a bit of a battle."