NELSON enjoyed their two games against Padiham in the NWCL Division Two last season - they put 12 goals past them and conceded just one.

With current form, the Blues might expect a similar scoreline having scored 36 goals so far in their 12 matches while Padiham are suffering from goal-shyness with seven in their ten matches - and three of them came in one game.

But Nelson boss John Bailey knows statistics won't count for anything when the two clash at Victoria Park tomorrow.

"It's a local derby, they won't need to be fired up and neither should we be. Those results are in the past. That was then and this is now," he said.

"I know they haven't got off to the best of starts but they won midweek and that will be a boost for them."

Nelson, who are aiming for the Division Two title, have Scott Gizon and Scott Gilchrist back after missing the midweek draw with Formby. Stuart Mulligan could feature after returning from holiday but Mark Robinson is a long-term casualty. Striker Jonathan Irvine is 50-50.

Padiham manager Graham Howarth, however, is fearful of the clash. "If we get anything from this game it will be a miracle," he said. "Last year Lee Chambers couldn't stop scoring, this year we just can't score. The other night, Lee shot, it hit one of their players, hit the bar bounced onto the post and out.

"That seems to be a symptom of our luck lately. We won 1-0 against Chadderton and we should have won 5-0. We are just lacking confidence but hopefully the win will pick us up a bit."

The Storks have Shaun Kendall and Carl Parker out with Jason Stubbs struggling with an Achilles injury.