THE Bolton Association have again called up the big guns in an effort to set up an all-Bolton final in the MEN inter-league knockout.

In the first round destruction of the Saddleworth League, the Association big-hitters set a new high score when they compiled 301-5 with Atherton's Neil Bannister reaching an unbeaten 121.

Now manager Steve Walsh is asking for the same again as his side face one of the competition favourites, the Northern League.

The two sides meet at Leyland CC tomorrow and Walsh is hoping his side will fare better than they did in 1986, when the two sides met on the same ground in the final, only for the Association to miss out.

They went some way to making amends for that two years ago when they beat the Northern League at Fleetwood, although Walsh admits there could be something of a backlash from that.

"I think they underestimated us then, but I don't think they will do it again." he said.

"Still, I fancy our chances, we've put our hope in a very strong batting line-up and if the batsmen play to their strength, I'm confident we'll do well.

"We're under no illusions, though. Over the years they've produced very good inter-league sides and it looks as though that will happen again tomorrow.

"Neil Bannister, who played in the league at Chorley for a few years, has given us some info on their players and hopefully that will stand us in good stead."

Bannister will again feature in the early batting line-up and will be hoping that his Atherton team-mate, teenager Karl Brown can provide the same support as he did against Saddleworth.

Brown made 81 in that game, and he and bannister put on a partnership of 124 that affectively won the game for the Bolton side.

There are two changes from that line-up for tomorrow's game, Atherton's Philip West is unavailable and is replaced by Clifton's David Hamilton, a move that will bolster the bowling attack, while Little Hulton's Mark Penny replaces Jack Southworth, who has moved to Bolton League side Heaton.

Bolton Association: John Norris capt., Dominic Gavin (Darcy Lever), Mark Penny (Little Hulton), Neil Bannister, Karl Brown (Atherton), Mark Goddard, Peter Kay (Elton), Brett Collins, Tony Kelly (Walshaw), Andrew Griffiths, David Hamilton (Clifton).