Guiseley face a huge local derby on Saturday as they host FC Halifax Town in the FA Trophy third qualifying round – with the clubs closer now than ever before.

The Shaymen have had their problems since they dropped out of the Football League for a record third time. Financial difficulties led to them reforming as a UniBond League Division One North outfit.

Even allowing for the fact that Guiseley, from a division higher up the pyramid, have home advantage, the Shaymen could still be favourites.

The Lions have picked up just one Premier Division point from the last six on offer and that dropped them to ninth in the table.

Halifax are fifth in the lower tier but, while they are seven points off the summit, they have four games in hand and have lost just once in the league this term. They also still have their core support and will probably outnumber Lions fans on the terraces.

Guiseley boss Steve Kittrick said: “This is a massive game for both clubs and I’m sure it will be a big occasion. We have Anthony Lloyd missing and loan signing Simon Ainge cup-tied but we have to get on with it.”

Lloyd suffered a bad injury in last week’s league defeat at Kendal Town.