DARWEN are aiming to pull off one of the biggest shocks in their history against Southport in the semi-finals of the Lancashire ATS Challenge Trophy tonight.
Player-manager Steve Wilkes is under no illusions about the size of the task as four divisions separate the Nationwide Conference outfit and his North Western Trains League Second Division side.
It's the Anchormen's biggest game in nearly 20 years but Wilkes is still confident his men can pull off a shock if Paul Futcher's side treat the contest too lightly.
"If Southport play to their full potential then we'll struggle because they've got better players than us," said Wilkes, a former Sandgrounders player.
"But football can be a funny old game, they're struggling in the league at the moment and they might rest one or two players because they think it's going to be easy.
"I certainly don't want to go back there as a manager with a team and get beat five or six nil."
"Nobody would have given us a chance of getting this far so why shouldn't we go all the way?"
Wilkes's men will have to find a way to contain a Southport strike force which boasts recent £16,000 signing Lee Trundle and ex-England semi-pro international Brian Ross. But another recent five-figure capture Ian Arnold will miss the clash because he is cup-tied.
Neil Almond and Neil Cordingley are both ruled out of the Darwen squad so Wilkes, Steve Elmer and Matt Atkinson have been added.
The match kicks off at 7.30pm at Haig Avenue.
Accrington Stanley will be aiming to give their long-suffering supporters something to cheer about when Guiseley visit the Crown Ground for a UniBond League Challenge Cup fourth round tie.
Clitheroe travel to Atherton Collieries for a North Western Trains League Floodlit Trophy third round tie.
And Ramsbottom United entertain Maine Road in a NWTL Division One clash at the Riverside. All 7.30 kick-off.
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