AS Bradford Park Avenue head to Stockport County’s 11,000 seater Edgeley Park Stadium on Saturday, the former Football League rivals could hardly be closer together in their division.

Mark Bower’s Avenue climbed to tenth in Vanarama National League North on Monday, while Jim Gannon’s Hatters dropped to ninth.

Both sides have ten points and are just two points outside the play-off places after both have won three, drawn one and lost three of their seven league games.

They had both won two games on the trot before the bank holiday fixtures, when Bradford Avenue played out a goalless draw with Chorley while Stockport suffered a 3-1 defeat at Tamworth, which left the clubs only separated by goal difference.

Bower said: “We know it’s a big game, but they all are in this league and the big ground and excellent facilities they have will give our players a big lift.

“Stockport will be ready for that though because I’m sure most of their opponents enjoy playing at their big ground and on that nice, big pitch.

"They are a good side and they look to have prepared for another push to get back up into the National League and use that momentum to get back into the Football League.”

The Park Avenue boss made changes from last Saturday’s 4-1 win at Telford United as they hosted Chorley just two days later.

The only reason he changed a winning side was to manage the players through the workload.

Bower spoke last week about the rigours six games in 17 days poses for a semi-pro club, and rotated the squad to give players recovery time and to keep others topped up with match fitness.

He started with a back four and two other defensive players as Javan Vidal and Adam Nowakowski were in the line-up.

The formation was innovative, with Nowakowski as one of two playing in front of the back four, while Vidal operated in the middle of a midfield three supporting Adam Boyes up front.

Bower said: “We had to make changes, quite simply because of the number of games, but I thought it worked well. Jav was excellent in his midfield role and Adam (Nowakowski) played well – his height is also an asset.

“You will face different challenges in every game at this level but I think we’ve got a squad with enough quality and variation to cause problems for any opponent.”