Another Alfreton win the aim for Read

The Marston Road men take on the play-off chasing Derbyshire outfit in the team's first Blue Square North meeting - in game 35 of the home side's season - before the corresponding fixture at the Impact Arena next Tuesday night.

With a tough trip to title-chasing Southport sandwiched in between on Saturday, it is all to do for Rangers' survival bid - they are six points from the relegation places after Saturday's defeat at Blyth Spartans.

All of the teams below the 16th-placed side are in action tonight - although 17th-placed Farsley and bottom club Hucknall play each other - so Read does not need telling the importance of what a morale-boosting home win could mean.

And Stafford have beaten Alfreton before this season, Nick Wellecomme's two goals for the season earning a 3-2 Setanta Shield win in September.

The No 2 said: "It would be fantastic, a real shot in the arm for our survival hopes. We have done it before, we went to their place and beat them in the Setanta Shield earlier in the season. Nick got two in that game and he did everything but score on Saturday, so if he could break his duck tonight it would be a great omen.

"The boys have not chucked the towel in, they are working as hard as ever and we will get there in the end. Which is good, it's encouraging. It's down to the pride of the players and the management team, none of us want the label on our heads as the set-up that took Stafford Rangers down.

"It's now up to us to ensure that doesn't happen."