PADIHAM and Nelson will both gain a good indication of their North West Counties Division Two title prospects tonight.

The teams clash at the Arbories in the first round of the Lancashire FA Marsden Trophy hoping to continue their recent run of good results.

Nelson are currently top of the NWCL Division Two form table, with Padiham fourth, but their manager Vince Overson is treating cup ties with the same priority as league fixtures.

He said: "We want to win every game because it becomes a habit, as does losing. The more we win, confidence gets higher.

"Nelson aren't a bad side and we've had them watched, but we've proved we can compete with the top teams."

Nelson boss Dave Hall said: "It should be a good game and they will be well organised with Vince in there.

"If we can progress in this it will help us financially but I don't want that to happen at the expense of the league."

Padiham will be without Craig Wilkinson for the next couple of weeks due to a knee ligament injury.

Neslon are unchanged from the side that won 2-0 at Winsford United on Saturday, with Sean Berry back in the squad.

However, Mick Charlton is ineligible because the required seven days since his move from Bacup Borough has yet to elapse.