Bully gears up for Lynn-athon

It may be 'Groundhog Day' for Stafford manager Steve Bull but he warns Kings Lynn they could face two very different propositions over the next week.

Rangers go to the Walks Stadium in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy tomorrow (3pm), before returning for a Blue Square North game next Saturday.

That is two 260 mile round trip's to Norfolk and back alone - before you factor in any possible replay - and Bully must play the tie without a number of key players.

Jake Moult and Louis Briscoe, who completed his move from Gresley last night, are ineligible all together, while defender Stuart Pierpoint must sit out a one-match suspension. Fellow stopper Nick Amos is also struggling through injury.

All leaves Rangers with a tough task in hand and, if they can get through it with a win, they would be odds-on favourites to win next Saturday's league game with the quartet back in the frame.

Bull said: "If Kings Lynn think they will have us sussed after Saturday, they can think again. When we go back there in the league next Saturday, we will have Jake, Stuart and Nick all ready to start, while Louis will also be eligible for his debut.

"We could be a different proposition all together then, but right now we need to concentrate on the task in hand and that is the FA Trophy tomorrow."

It has been a season of firsts for Bully and tomorrow marks his first foray into the FA Trophy in any capacity, with the 'non-league FA Cup' the last serious piece of cup-ware Rangers can realistically contend for.

The manager has earmarked the competiton as one his side can do well in.

He said: "I have no experience of the trophy at all, but I know it is the non-league FA Cup of sorts. I want to do very well in the competition, like I do in every cup. If we can get through the rounds, it would be great for the club.

"We had a lot of fun in the Setanta Shield, so more of the same in the FA Trophy that would be great."