Avenue face a big roses clash tomorrow when Lancaster City visit Horsfall Stadium and the home side are in the unusual position of chasing a Conference North double.

The Bradford side were 1-0 victors at Lancaster in the reverse fixture back in December when Danny Walsh grabbed the winner.

The game marked the Avenue debut of Ashley Scothern but he has moved on since.

The fluid nature of the non-league game has not helped Avenue this term. They have not had a settled side by any means. New players have been brought in but two of the latest signings are sidelined.

After returning to the club last week, flying winger Dean Calcutt picked up a groin injury in his second debut. In the same game, last Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Worcester City that kept Avenue bottom, Danny Ryan limped off after just 20 minutes.

"The curse continues," commented Avenue manager Carl Shutt.

But he is in a positive mood after a free midweek allowed the players an intense week of training.

"We could have four players back in Dean Jones - the club captain - Ryan Crossley, Michael Naylor and Jonathon Holland. On the down side, Tony Lennon is serving a three-game suspension.

"All through this campaign it has been the same. Whoever we have back or have brought in on loan, there are as many not available for many reasons - more than football usually has to offer," added Shutt.

"But we have to bite the bullet and push on. It is a crucial time in the season with the run-in looming. There are enough points to play for and there is a belief within the club that we will escape relegation.

"I would rather have the players available for the run-in. It's no use crying over what could have been - that's history".

Avenue (from): Britton, Quinn, M Naylor, Walsh, Wray, Clayton, P Naylor, Greaves, Ekoku, Oleksewycz, Coubrough, Smith, Mumbly, Robinson, Jones, Crossley, Holland.