NPL Match Preview: Gainsborough Trinity vs South Shields

South Shields travel to Lincolnshire on Tuesday as they take on Gainsborough Trinity in the Pitching In Northern Premier League (7.45pm kick-off).

In what is one of the Mariners' games in hand on the four teams sitting immediately below them in the table, they will be aiming to make it six victories in a row.

That would put them 11 points clear at the top, but they face a stern test against Gainsborough, who would climb to fourth with a win.

Trinity boast the league's second-highest goalscorer, Clayton Donaldson, and recent results have included a 6-2 thrashing of Marske United and a creditable 1-1 draw at Bamber Bridge.

The reverse fixture was held at 1st Cloud Arena in August, when a late Martin Smith strike salvaged a 1-1 draw for Shields.

Manager's views

Shields manager Kevin Phillips said: "We’re delighted with our form but we’re still far from done and have a lot of difficult matches coming up.

“The first of those is at Gainsborough, who are a good side and are up there challenging.

“We’re prepared and ready for the test, and see it as a real opportunity with it being our game in hand.

“We’ll need to be at our best to get the three points, but we go into it with a lot of confidence.”

Phillips is expecting to have a near full-strength squad to choose from at Gainsborough.

He added: “Selection decisions are getting tougher and tougher, particularly at this stage of the season.

“This is our last midweek game for a few weeks, but I feel we will need to utilise the whole squad.

“Everyone wants to play, of course, but those who haven’t been in the starting XI over recent weeks are right behind everyone and understand the reasons.

“I’m going to have to have another good think about the team on Tuesday and it’s a great headache to have.

“We’re in a really good place.”

Team news

Shields are expected to remain without Jordan Hunter, who sustained a groin injury in last Tuesday's win over Liversedge.

Information for supporters

Kick-off at the Dave Longstaff Martin & Co Arena - which has a post code of DN21 2QW - is at 7.45pm.

Admission prices are £12 for adults, £8 for concessions and £4 for Under-16s, who are free with a paying adult.

There will be no Mariners Live Mixlr coverage of this game, but regular updates will be posted on the club's Twitter page.