BRADFORD Park Avenue face a tough game at AFC Telford United, knowing that a victory would take them above the Bucks in the early Vanarama National League North table.

The clubs have identical records after five league games - won two, lost three - but the Bucks have a better goal difference following Avenue’s 5-0 home defeat against York City.

Both sides will have their tails up though after winning last time out.

Avenue enjoyed a confidence-boosting 3-0 home win against long-term rivals FC United of Manchester, while the Bucks were winning 1-0 at Darlington, one of the promotion favourites.

New Telford boss Rob Edwards, like Avenue boss Mark Bower, had seen his side lose three on the spin before that.

Telford and Avenue opened their seasons with three pointers, however, with Telford’s coming against York, so they are capable of beating the so-called bigger teams.

Avenue boss Bower will have more to ponder than he did last Saturday, however, as he had just 15 available players.

That left Avenue one substitute short of naming a full teamsheet.

Bower said: “Both the Boshells (brothers Danny and Nicky) and Adam (Nowakowski) are back available, so we’re at least back to somewhere near we’d like to be.

“They were all injured but they were only minor injuries - we just had to look after them because of all the games coming up.

"We’ll have options for Saturday and a full bench, and we’ll have Javan Vidal back from suspension for Monday.

“Javan sits out the last game of his three-game ban at Telford, so it’ll be great to get him back in the squad.

“It’ll be a tough few days as well. Telford got two fantastic results and proved they can beat the top teams, and Chorley (Monday's visitors to Horsfall Stadium) were last season’s beaten finalists.

"They lost to FC Halifax Town and they’ve struggled to get going this time around but they’ll find their form because they’re an excellent side."

The Magpies go into the busy weekend a point behind Avenue.