PARK AVENUE boss Mark Bower is hoping to gain 'a psychological edge' over today's opponents Stockport County.

His club head to their former Football League opponents in the National North League and then make the repeat journey to Edgeley Park in a week's time after the teams were paired together in the FA Trophy.

Bower said: “Next Saturday’s game is as hard as they come and the draw is a very, very tough one. It’s certainly not a favourable one and to be playing them in the league the game before isn’t ideal.

“I think it can give us a psychological edge if we go there and get a good result today because if we give a good account of ourselves we prove to be strong opponents. But it can go the other way as well, for either club.

“A poor performance or a bad defeat could make it a nervous week for one of the clubs and play on the minds of the players. I’m not particularly bothered about playing the same side twice on the trot because no two games of football are ever the same.”

The third qualifying round tie is another tough draw after Avenue drew Salford City in the FA Cup second qualifying round earlier this season, losing the tie 1-0 at Horsfall Stadium.

Salford and Stockport are both on course to be in the race for promotion to the National League.

Bower said: “They don’t get any easier these cup ties. After we got Salford City in the FA Cup, we then get another of our league’s biggest clubs in the Trophy.

“Funnily enough when we (Bower and his assistant Danny Boshell) were at Guiseley we had back to back games against Stockport’s neighbours Hyde but that was a Tuesday/Saturday.

“It will be a bit different playing two on the spin, both on Saturdays and at the same venue.”

In March last year Bower’s Guiseley travelled to Hyde where they were held to a goalless draw and four days later they took all three points with a 2-0 win at Nethermoor thanks to a brace from Adam Boyes.