Rangers playing strong side in cup

Stafford Rangers manager Chris Brindley is to field a strong side with a place in the Staffordshire Senior Cup semi-final up-for-grabs against Chasetown.

The Blue Square North club take on their local rivals at Marston Road tonight with all players present and accounted for after Saturday's 2-2 draw at Blyth Spartans, although veteran midfielder Tony Dinning is likely to be rested with a home game against Hyde United at the weekend on the horizon.

Striker Warwick Alexander is likely to return up front in his place as Rangers go 4-4-2 for the tie, against a Scholars side flying high in the play-off spots of the Unibond League Division One South.

Brindley led the club to the final of the competition last season but lost on penalties to Kidsgrove Athletic, and has vowed to treat the cup with the same respect.

He said: "We will play as strong a side as we can, we might leave a couple out but that will be it, because we haven't got big numbers. Tony might be on the bench, but about 90 per cent of Saturday's line-up will play.

"That said, we have got a big weekend coming up, so we might have to be a bit careful. But Chasetown are a good side, one of the better teams in the lower leagues for years, so it will be a difficult game."

Rangers have also been boosted by the news that captain Nick Wellecomme, who was sent off for violent conduct on Saturday, will not start a three-match ban until the home game with Alfreton on Saturday week.

The top-scoring striker is therefore eligible for tonight's game, Saturday's visit of Hyde and next Tuesday's trip to Farsley Celtic.

Brindley said: "It's still a big blow, Nick is our captain and key goalscorer, it's three key games he is going to miss whenever that is.

"We have got to replace him somehow, so we will have to see what we can do."