Bradford Park Avenue will be back in action tonight following the frustrations of the frost-bound holiday period when they host Whitby Town in a UniBond League Challenge Cup qualifying group three match at Horsfall Stadium.

Avenue need only to draw to ensure they finish top of the group and go straight through to the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup but Whitby will be out to cause an upset at their Premier Division counterparts.

The visitors cannot break into the top two - if Avenue lose then they will still end the group as runners-up to Division One neighbours Guiseley, who currently lead on goals scored - but they could still progress to the knockout stages with a victory at Horsfall.

"There is a lot riding on tonight's game but after the lay-off because of the weather it will have an even keener edge," said Avenue boss Trevor Storton.

"We are definitely glad to have a game at long last but I think they will need a game as well, to try to get back somewhere near fitness before they are back in action with a big game at Barrow in the league on Saturday."

The game has been postponed three times already and originally Whitby were reluctant to field their strongest team in the internal cup competitions because they were facing an FA Cup replay with Nationwide Third Division leaders Plymouth Argyle.

Priorities have changed since then. Whitby are below Avenue in the league, they are out of all the national competitions and face a bleak second half of the season if they fail to qualify from this group.

Storton said: "They still have something to play for in this and they need vital match practice anyway so they will definitely be sending a full squad and taking the game seriously. It will be a good test for our players."

Storton will be without striker Jason Maxwell who has come down with a bout of flu and goal- scoring centre back Micky Thompson. He scored twice in the 3-2 win at fourth-placed Barrow a week last Saturday - Avenue's last fixture because of the severe winter conditions - but has a one- match suspension to serve.

Farsley Celtic were hoping to complete their remaining fixture in group three, a visit to Division One rivals Harrogate Town, tonight but plans were scuppered. Town had a West Riding County Cup tie with neighbours Harrogate Railway Athletic last night which took precedence.

Bradford Park Avenue (from): Montgomery, Quinn, James, Richards, Stansfield, Hancock, Wharton, Potter, Calcutt, Benn, Lindley, Hayward, O'Brien, I. Thompson.