Leigh RMI v Radcliffe Borough preview by Martyn Hindley

Derby test

LEIGH face the derby challenge of Radcliffe Boro in the Marsden Trophy tonight.

The Railwaymen from the Conference take on Borough of the Unibond League First Division at Hilton Park but you will be hard pressed to find the enthusiasm and excitement stirred up by other cup derbies.

Leigh could make as many as six changes to the starting line-up that was so comprehensively hammered by Barnet at the weekend.

Neil Durkin should return and he could be joined by Andy Heald and John Robertson as both bid to return to first team action after injury, whilst Neil Fisher should keep his place.

Both recent recruits Liam Blakeman and Neil Tolson could also figure as Steve Waywell attempts to mix things up ahead of the critical home league game with Morecambe on Saturday.

For all their successes, RMI have never been a cup team. Their demise in this competition to Accrington last season (1-2) and Lancaster the season before (0-3 in a replay) were meek and feeble efforts that cannot be blamed upon an under-strength team. And for that very reason, Borough cannot be under-rated.