Going into the game they sit in ninth place, two points better off than Ossett Town and only suffered their first defeat of the season in midweek, going down 2-1 to Prescot Cables.

Captain Alex Peterson admits Atherton are not a side he knows well but concedes “we know they have had a good start to the season so we will be taking every step to ensure we take something from the game”.

This will be a first meeting between the two sides, then seven days later the sides will meet again, this time in the Second Qualifying Round of the Emirates FA Cup.

Grant Black was happy to get a home tie in the FA Cup, though he conceded there are no easy ties at this stage of the competition as everyone battles to get that next step closer to a potential first round proper tie.

“We are looking forward to the two games with Atherton Collieries” says Black “I feel playing them the week before the cup tie will have some impact as far as preparation for the second game, but every game is different so we will treat it as that”.

Peterson adds “there are pros and cons to playing a side more than once in quick successions, on the one hand they get to see our style of play but then so do we. However, we know when we are on our game we can beat any side whether they know how we play or not, it will be down to ourselves on the day and who wants it more”.

Last weekend Ossett Town beat Consett in the First Qualifying Round of the FA Cup to set up the game with Atherton a week on Saturday.

Black was pleased with the Consett game “we didn't start well but credit to them for that as they really took the game to us. We wanted to get to half time still in the game so we could implement our changes”

“We changed the formation and personnel and it worked so we were happy with that, the lads we have can adapt to situations in games and formations which is why they are such a good bunch to work with. It helps us when we know we can play different ways and try and win games that could otherwise be lost”.

Peterson took advantage of the formation change, and grabbed the key equalising goal early in the second half agrees with is manager “it is brilliant the lads can adjust to certain situations. Of course a lot of credit goes to the Gaffer and and Norbs [Micky Norbury] for changing it”.

“But if lads can adapt quickly to different formations then it gives us every chance regardless of who we are playing”.