TADCASTER ALBION'S senior stars must "step up" in the absence of defensive stalwart Denny Ingram, manager Paul Marshall has declared.

The Brewers will be without their inspirational 38-year-old centre-half for three games as he serves a suspension along with former Manchester United, Middlesbrough and York City midfielder Jonathan Greening.

Ingram, a Football League stalwart for Hartlepool United earlier in his career, will be a huge loss as table-topping Albion entertain fourth placed Heanor Town at Ings Lane in the Northern Counties East League premier division tomorrow and Marshall wants to make sure their promotion-challenging opponents are not given a sniff of top spot.

"Jonathan and Denny are both suspended for three games. Denny has been outstanding for 18 months for us. He is one of my best ever signings.

"What other players have got to remember is that you can't rely on a 38-year-old to carry you through games. When he doesn't play well, the team doesn't play well.

"Our other senior players have to step up. You can't rely on one or two players do it. There are enough characters in the team that will raise their games.

"It will be a very tough game. We played down there earlier in the season and they hammered us for 30 minutes and went 1-0 up. Callum Ward scored and Carl Stewart got the other. They will still be smarting from that."

Stewart will be a game-time decision this time around as he struggles with a knee injury. The club are waiting for a medical report before confirming whether he is playing or not.

That means Danny Gray, who has recently rejoined the club from NCEL division one Selby Town, will be in the squad. Of his striking options, Marshall added: "We have got plenty of forwards.

"We have Ward and Josh Barrett as well as Danny. They are scoring week in and week out but that's what you need. That's what Shaw Lane have got and that's what Heanor have got."

With Tadcaster not having played since their 3-0 loss at home to Cleethorpes on December 9, Marshall's men are keen to make a new statement against Heanor as they bid to increase their four point lead at the league's summit.

"You can't win every game in the league," Marshall said. "There are at least 12 teams in this division who can beat you. We had a bad performance that night. Seven or eight players didn't play well.

"There is no better incentive than to come back against fierce rivals."

Elsewhere, a trip to Tamworth awaits Harrogate Town, who are bidding to end a run of two straight defeats. Harrogate Railway are also on their travels. They visit Brighouse Town in Evo-Stik League first division north.

Scarborough Athletic host Mossley in the same division.