ACCRINGTON STANLEY have a number of injuries to key players to check before the crucial trip to Runcorn.

A long hard season has taken its toll on the spine of Wayne Harrison's team, just when their destiny is back in their own hands.

Centre back pairing Paul Bottomley and Paul Tomlinson are struggling with tendonitis of the knee and a hamstring pull respectively.

And midfield powerhouses Steve Baines and Paul Lynch are doubtful with hamstring and groin injuries respectively.

Harrison said: "It's not the biggest squad we have and when we have a few injuries it does become difficult.

"But the lads have coped well with changing positions before."

Paul Heavey and Aidan Warder have an added incentive against their old club, who have shown improved form of late.

But only one side has a better record than Stanley over the last eight games.

Harrison, who was at Leigh last night to check on Runcorn, said: "I think everyone has a special incentive. We have got to win our last two games."

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED hope to put a huge dent in Newcastle Town's promotion plans when they travel to Staffordshire. The Rams are still smarting after a 5-0 thumping from Town two weeks ago and a victory tomorrow would go some way to healing those wounds.

"It's a tough game but it can't get any worse than last time we played them, surely," said secretary John Maher.

"Psychologically, the pressure is on them because they need to win every game because they're going for promotion so hopefully we can take advantage."

Russell and Warren Brierley return to the squad after missing out last weekend but Danny Goodhall's season now looks over after he suffered another injury set back this week.

ROSSENDALE UNITED boss Micky Graham hopes he'll be surplus to requirements for tomorrow's derby with Clitheroe at Dark Lane.

Graham came out of retirement on Tuesday night and played a full 90 minutes in the Stags 4-0 defeat at Workington after four players pulled out of the trip at the last minute.

But Brian Duffy, Paul Demaine, Vinnie Patterson and Jarrod Clegg could all be back.

"I hope I'm not playing again because I don't think I'd pass a fitness test," said Graham, who is still nursing various aches and pains. "We want to win every game between now and the end of the season and try and finish in the top 10 if we can.

"It's going to be tough against Clitheroe but we'll just try and get in amongst it."

DARWEN boss Steve Wilkes is refusing to give up on the prospect of promotion after last weekend's thumping 6-0 victory over Maghull.

The Anchormen might be 10th in the North Western Trains League Second Division and 18 points behind second placed Fleetwood Freeport who visit the Anchor tomorrow.

But with top 10 sides Squires Gate, Castleton Gabriels, Abbey Hey and Formby unlikely to have grounds good enough to get promoted, Darwen could still go up via the back door.

"We haven't given up hope because Bootle went up last year and they only finished seventh," said Wilkes.

"But we've got to try and win all our remaining games, finish as high as we can, and take it from there."

Meanwhile, enigmatic forward Steve Elmer has decided to quit the Anchor after failing to hold down a regular place.

And Neil Cordingley looks like being ruled out for the rest of the season through injury.

COLNE will be hoping to fare better than neighbours Bacup Borough did last week when in-form Warrington Town are the visitors to Holt House.

Town, who are making a late push for a promotion spot, smashed eight goals past Brent Peters' side with hot-shot striker Damien Whitehead bagging a hat-trick to take his personal tally to 51 for the season.

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