Ahead of Wednesday's game, Gary Mercer will give fitness checks to several players - including the three who missed out on Oldham's win over Sharlston at Post Office Road on Friday: Ricky Bibey, Alex Wilkinson and Danny Nanyn. Another three picked up concerning knocks in that game, Carlos Mataora, who took a hard hit in a tackle, Tere Glassie (hamstring) and Damian Munro (shoulder).

Mercer said there was a ³very good chance² of Bibey, Mataora, Nanyn and Wilkinson playing at Rochdale on Wednesday. ³My biggest concerns are Glassie and Munro,² he added. ³Their injuries will have settled down over the weekend, but we wonıt know their full extent until the physio has examined them.²

At Hornets, with players fighting for a place in the starting line-up, the Bobster has a selection headache after Sunday's record-breaking points-fest.

Phil Farrell is close to fitness, with Dave Newton, Dave Cunliffe, Dave Alstead, Sam Butterworth and Chris Campbell all champing at the bit.

Richard Varkulis and Radney Bowker are likely to have pre-match fitness tests - though Radders did feature against Illingworth. It's likely that Paul Anderson will miss out in order not to aggravate the knock he took to his reconstructed knee on Sunday.

³Itıs a nice position to be in," said Goulding: "... but make no mistake, whoever pulls on a Hornetsı shirt will have their mind on the job. If we play to our potential I am confident we can win the game.²

So let's keep the momentum rolling and get behind the lads. Floodlit games always have an added frisson of excitement - add the buzz of a local derby against the old enemy and it makes for the best possible way to spend a Wednesday evening.