BRENT Peters is singing the praises of his opposite numbers ahead of tonight's derby with Ramsbottom United.

The Bacup Borough manager has hailed the Rams' appointment of Vince Overson as manager and is expecting them to give his side a tough time of it at West View in the NWCL Division One clash.

"There's pride at stake with it being a derby, and I think the appointment of Vince Overson as manager has been a positive one for them," Peters said.

"His assistant, Ged Walsh, played for me at Rossendale and he is an honest lad who never gives less than 100 per cent so his involvement with the management side can only be a good thing for Ramsbottom."

Bacup have captain Steve Stott back after suspension and Rhodri Giggs is available after missing Saturday's 1-1 draw at Glossop North End to attend a wedding, while Stuart Telfer is expected to recover from a groin strain.

Ramsbottom, meanwhile, are fighting fit after an enforced break of over two weeks.

The last time they played 90 minutes was in the 2-1 win over Great Harwood in the League Challenge Cup quarter-finals on January 24.

However, Ramsbottom have been ordered by the league to re-play the game as they fielded an ineligible player.

With both Paul Horridge and Steve Lyons cup-tied, manager Vince Overson drafted Bennett in on loan from UniBond First Division outfit Bamber Bridge - a league higher than the NWCFL first division where Ramsbottom play.

Rammy have subsequently been deemed by the league to have played an ineligible player and ordered to play the game again on February 24.

But on tonight's game, originally postponed from Boxing Day, assistant manager Walsh, who hails from Bacup, said: "The lads are itching for a game so we're looking forward to tonight.

"They are in good shape, apart from perhaps lacking match fitness, but we've been training hard and it should be a good game."