PICKERING Town boss Paul Marshall is confident of ending an AFC Mansfield hoodoo and reaching the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

The Pikes beat Evo-Stik League west division side Droylsden in a first qualifying round replay 10 days ago to set up tomorrow's clash away to their Nottinghamshire rivals (3pm), with whom they were promoted last season to Evo-Stik west.

And, while Mansfield have won their last three meetings – 3-2 and 2-1 in the Northern Counties East League last term and 2-1 in this season’s early match-up – Marshall is hopeful of turning the tables, on the back of a five-match unbeaten run and two away victories on the trot.

“We’re well-acquainted with them," he said. "I know (manager) Rudy Funk well. They’re a well-run club, they have plenty of money to spend and they’re very direct.

“But we’re getting used to doing long throws and set pieces, and we’re going into the game full of confidence and hopefully we’ll have that extra bit of quality.

“You’ve got to go in confident. Even though they’ve beaten us the last three times, they’ve always been tight games.

“The last time we were slightly depleted so it should be interesting with a full squad."

The Pikes have only Matty Turnbull absent. Marshall added: “We’re lucky we’ve got Jack Vaulks (on loan from Darlington) and Adam Lund (on dual-reg from Goole), so we’re quite well sorted.”

If the tie is tight towards the end, Pickering might also have the edge - having scored a stoppage-time equaliser or winner in three of their last four fixtures.

“It’s a desire to win or desire not to get beaten,” Marshall said.

Meanwhile, in the Evo-Stik east division, Tadcaster Albion go to Belper, with both teams level on 20 points chasing the leading bunch above.

The Brewers will need to show more steel than in their midweek West Riding FA County Cup loss to Ossett United.

A four-goal 11-minute second-half salvo effectively KO'd an understrength Taddy team that night, after Jack Vann, who had a brief spell with Albion at the start of the season, had put Ossett ahead inside fives minutes.

Tad boss Simon Collins will field a stronger line-up tomorrow as they seek to continue their five-match unbeaten run in the league.

A match report from Taddy's cup defeat is on thepress.co.uk/sport

Premier division leaders Scarborough - who won 5-0 at Redcar Town in the North Riding County FA Senior Cup in midweek, thanks to goals by Luke Lofts (penalty), Jack Johnson, Nathan Valentine, James Cadman and George Walmsley - have this weekend off.

Meanwhile, the game of the day in the NCEL premier division sees second-placed Knaresborough Town host third-placed Penistone Church.

Bottom club Harrogate Railway entertain mid-table Eccleshill United, while, in division one, promotion hopefuls Selby Town will expect to take maximum points from their trip to winless whipping boys Bolsover.

National League Harrogate Town have no fixture.