ACCRINGTON Stanley will be hoping to test their Conference credentials in the Lancashire Marsden Cup - but first they have to get past lower league opposition tonight.

North West Counties Division One side Atherton Collieries are the visitors to the Crown Ground in the second round of the competition.

But with Leigh and Southport still in it, the high flying Reds, currently third in the UniBond Premier Division, may get a chance to have an idea how they would fare if they made the step up.

"To be fair we want to be playing these teams week in week out. That is our aim," said manager John Coleman. "When you play higher league sides in competitions like these, you are never sure how seriously they do take them. Our ambition is to meet them on a level footing.

"But we do want to progress in this competition, we are just taking it one game at a time but we have been kicking our heels with the weather affecting training and the postponements and we can't wait to get out playing again."

This doesn't mean Stanley will in anyway underestimate their opponents who are currently 15th in division one.

Supporters may expect a repeat of a scoreline in the first round of this competition against a North West Counties side when Stanley hammered Castleton Gabriels 7-0.

"I'll just settle for a win," admitted the Reds chief, whose side are already through to the quarter-finals of the UniBond League Cup.

"We did have a good win against Castleton but then we lost Paul Mullin for three weeks with injury so I will just settle for getting through with a good performance."

With the Reds on a current run of 13 games without a loss - a penalty defeat to Altrincham aside - they do want the games to come thick and fast and Coleman is keen to give the lads a run-out.

Striker Lutel James could be back in the starting line-up following an absence of four games. He missed three through suspension and then was put on the transfer list briefly by the club after a disagreement over a disciplinary measure. It has since been sorted out.

And the Reds record signing Gary Williams, another who has come off the transfer list, could get his chance after making just one substitute appearance since he came off the list last month. "Gary needs to get his confidence back and playing games should do this," continued the boss. "He just needs to knuckle down. The lads are glad he is back and it is nice to have him back and available.

Defender Robbie Williams is also in the frame after recovering from a badly gashed leg. Kick off is at 7.45pm.