Northern League
Sunderland RCA manager Martin Swales is hoping his side can kick on from their superb FA Cup performance in midweek.
RCA beat Liversedge away from home in a replay to set up a clash with Scarborough Athletic in the second qualifying round of the prestigious competition.
It’s back to the bread and butter of the league this weekend, however, with RCA travelling to Billingham Synthonia in Division One.
Swales said: “Synners are struggling a little bit at the moment, so we are hoping to get one over them this weekend.
“We have had a great start to the season and we hope it carries on.
“As for team news, Craig Hodgson is out injured, exSynthonia player Ross McNab is out injured, James Armstrong is on holiday and Jonathan Davis is at a wedding.
“Clayton Davis and Jak Ashton are back in the squad and player coach Colin Larkin is back.”
Victory for RCA over second-bottom Synners could see Swales’ side jump into the top five.
Synners will have new loan signing Lee Hume likely to feature in the squad, but they do have injury doubts to James Rowe, Tom Gavin and Scott Howes.
Shildon travel to Stockton Town, following a long trip in the FA Cup last weekend. They did maintain their unbeaten record however and moved on to the next round, but with a cost.
Adam Burnicle had to leave the field early in the game, with a serious hamstring and groin injury. This leaves them without their two main strikers and scorers, as Micky Rae is out for several weeks recovering from a hernia operation.
This, coupled with the absence of strong man Kyle May, with damaged rib problems, will leave the team depleted for the game. Consett are away at Team Northumbria and have injury concerns. Chairman Frank Bell said: “We have eight players out with injury, so it will be a big test on the squad. “We had a good win against Whitley Bay in midweek, so we will be going into the game in a positive mood. “We have a good squad with strength and depth, and have brought in David Dowson from Spennymoor, who scored on his debut in midweek.”