Guiseley and Bradford Park Avenue have been heading in opposite directions in the league but will be aiming towards the same target on Saturday.

The local rivals go head to head in the FA Cup, with the winners earning a place in the third qualifying round. Current league form could not be more diverse but knockout football traditionally levels the playing field.

New Guiseley boss Mark Bower is still looking for his first win and is anticipating a keen contest on home turf.

The former Bantams skipper said: “A win in an FA Cup derby to kick-start it all off would be fantastic. Derbies are great levellers and this one has all the ingredients.

“There is a bit of confidence in the side after the performances we have put in – but we know Park Avenue and their players well. They are good at creating spaces and have players who can hurt you when they get into those spaces.

“A lot of the lads know one another and I think it will be a fiercely competitive game.”

Avenue will be buoyant after hauling themselves up to seventh in the Conference North table with a 3-2 midweek win at Boston United.

John Deacey’s men have won four of their last five fixtures and have not been beaten since the opening week of the campaign.

Their recent rise has coincided with the Lions suffering four straight defeats, one of those at home to Avenue. Bower is keen to ensure that lightning does not strike twice.

He said: “We played well that day but got nothing because everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Even when we went down to ten men it was still a good performance.

“If we can keep 11 players on the pitch and take our chances, be clinical, I think we have every chance of turning that last result around.”

Recalling Avenue’s 2-0 win at Nethermoor less than a fortnight ago, Deacey said: “We were poor. It was one of those when the best team didn’t win – but that happens sometimes in football. It certainly has to us in the past.

“I was pleased with our result on Tuesday at Boston). We thoroughly deserved it because we played some unbelievable football at times.

“We sat back a little bit in the second half and they came back into it but we got the result.

“Saturday will be a difficult one. Mark has got his side playing well and they will be wanting to set the record straight after the league game. I’m sure they will pick up – I just hope its not this weekend.”

Deacey’s selection should be straightforward after naming an unchanged starting line-up in four successive games, although there is a doubt over Nicky Boshell.

The former Guiseley player, who returned to Avenue for a second spell during the close season and has been in fine form, was substituted towards the end of the first half against Boston.

Matt Clarke comes into contention for the home side. The former Bantams defender is yet to make his Lions debut after picking up a calf injury but has trained all week.

Craig Hobson is suspended and Danny Ellis (knee) is also ruled out.