STANLEY boss John Coleman is predicting a goal glut against Conference side Leigh RMI when the two sides clash in the Lancashire Marsden Trophy quarter-final at the Crown Ground tonight.

The Reds are certainly not shot-shy having scored 61 times in the UniBond Premier League in this campaign.

And Steve Waywell's Leigh - who have picked up in recent weeks after struggling this season - have themselves netted 41 League goals this season.

"It should be a good game," said boss John Coleman.

"I watched them when they played Rossendale earlier in this competition and it was a cracking game.

"We are both attack-minded sides and it could end up 10-all!

"I do wish we had met them last month though. They are on a roll now, I think they have won three or four on the bounce and they have got out of the slump they were in. They have done well."

Leigh, just a few years ago, finished in the runners-up spot in the UniBond First Division but have stormed up the Leagues and into the Conference and are in their second year in non-League's top flight.

"The first year they did really well in the Conference. You expect teams to do that as they live off adrenaline and the novelty of it all," said the Reds chief.

"The second year is when teams tend to struggle and they have but all credit to them they have picked themselves up."

It will be a test for Coleman's side who will face Burnley lad and former Wigan hitman Tony Black and the Clarets Ethnic Minorities Officer Dino Maarmia in the Leigh side.

"It will be a test for us but we want to play Conference sides every week, not just as one-offs.

"I have seen them a couple of times and saw Dino score a hat-trick against Rossendale, Tony Black has been on the scoresheet recently and Ian Monk is a good player.

"I suppose it depends how both teams play but we don't play any different whether it is a cup game, a league game or whatever. We tend to stick to the same rules."

New boy Steve Halford, a central defender, was not signed in time and, although he could play in the UniBond Cup competition on Saturday when the Reds beat Emley 1-0, he can't play tonight, having come from Conference side Chester.

"Steve will miss out but we have Jonathan Smith back from suspension. I was impressed with Steve on Saturday. He settled in well and looked like he had played there for years.

"He has come through the Bury youth set up and so has had a good grounding.

"We did try to get him when he left Bury but the lure of full time football at Chester probably tempted him.

"He was playing regularly for Chester but maybe Mark Wright didn't fancy him. Saying that he played for the FA Conference XI recently so he must be doing something right."

Russell Payne scored the winner against Emley in extra-time to seal the Reds a cup semi-final spot - his first goal of the season - but the real hero was goalkeeper Jamie Speare.

"The fact Russell scored with his head would make it a collector's item!" laughed Coleman. "I was relieved when it went in but I thought the lads did well to keep going in difficult conditions. And I didn't want it to go to penalties as we don't have the best of records.

"But Jamie was great. He has been on the top of his game this season and he made a number of good saves. He doesn't have much to do in some games but he always comes up with the goods."

ALSO in action tonight, weather permitting, in the NWCL Division Two are Nelson and Colne. Nelson are at home to Alsager while Colne travel to high flying Blackpool Mechanics.