CLITHEROE manager Lee Sculpher says he is in a "no win situation" as he prepares to name his team for tonight's Worthington Challenge Trophy Final.
The Blues travel to Bury's Gigg Lane to take on Mossley in their first cup final for four years.
And with a full squad to choose from, Sculpher admitted he's had a few selection problems.
"I'm in a no win situation," he said.
"Because of the season we've had, everybody deserves to play in the game, but only 11 can start, and you can only have three substitutes.
"So one or two won't even get changed tonight, which is disappointing for them. But I will pick a side which I believe is capable of winning the game."
Sculpher was keeping his team selection close to his chest but revealed Neil Spencer had recovered from a hamstring problem and would start after being sidelined for almost three weeks.
Mossley are favourite's in tonight's clash (kick-off 7.30pm) after beating Clitheroe twice in the league this season.
But in a one-off situation, Sculpher knows anything can happen.
And the Blues have prepared well for their first Challenge Trophy final appearance since 1986.
"We had a game last Tuesday and trained on Thursday night," Sculpher said.
"And in case it comes down to it, we practiced penalties for 40 minutes and did very well. I don't know if that's a good sign or not.
"But a lot of the players took some very good penalties and, should it come to that, it should give whoever takes them plenty of confidence.
"With them doing so well it's a case of who fancies it most. You tend to look more for volunteers in those situations."
He added: "Past performances against Mossley don't count for anything in a cup final. In fact, they'll probably be even more wary of us because, in the previous games, especially when we played them two weeks ago, for the last hour we were probably the better side.
"It was only our poor start to the game which let us down.
Clitheroe will be hoping to end the season with some silverware after being pipped to the North West Counties Division One title, and promotion, by Prescot Cables.
After coming to terms with settling for the runners-up spot, Sculpher said: "Irrespective of missing out on the league title, it's been a good season. Obviously when you get so close to finishing top it's easier to look back on certain games and say 'maybe that's where we lost it'.
"But we only lost two games out of the last 23 so we've had a great run since January.
"We've had a difficult route to the final so if we win it we'll have thoroughly deserved it because, on the way, we'll have beaten the league champions and the teams in third and fourth place in the First Division."
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