Why should I watch..?

To see if Witton, beaten only once in their past six Northern Premier League matches, can close to within a point of their promotion-chasing guests.

The rivals endured contracting fortunes on Saturday, when Albion put six goals past back-markers Sutton Coldfield while Warrington came a cropper at home to Coalville.

Carl Macauley’s men climbed to seventh in the table as a reward.

Yellows slip to fifth after losing successive league games for the first time this season, and they have been beaten too in three of their past five Premier Division games on the road.

What they’ve said

“We’re having some bad luck at the moment with injuries, and it’s testing us.

“We could be without three of our back-four for a big game, and that’s obviously not ideal.

“But we know this is an important part of the season, and we’ll continue to do everything we can to get a positive result.”

Carl Macauley, Witton Albion manager

“We’ve got a good gang of lads in our dressing room; they’re good players, and when they believe in themselves and each other then we’re a match for anyone.

“I still think we’re a bit light on numbers though; we’ve spoken about bringing in a couple more and we’ll need to for this busy period.”

Paul Carden, Warrington Town manager

Numbers game

Defender Michael Wilson will make his 100th appearance for Witton if selected to face Yellows

Witton team news

Carl Macauley has a crisis in defence with Nick Ryan (broken jaw) joining an injury list that already includes Anthony Brown (knee) and Anthony Gardner (ankle).

He has though recruited full-back Joel Bembo-Leta from Premier Division rivals Altrincham as cover.

Rob Hopley is likely to play at the heart of the backline as he did after Ryan went off in a 6-2 win at Sutton Coldfield.

Paul Williams (knee) is also ruled out until the middle of next month.

Warrington team news

Jack Higgins is available again after completing a suspension, but full-back Shaun Beeley (broken leg) is still not ready for a return.

Liam Hynes is out for the rest of the season.

Former Notts County midfielder Will Hayhurst made his debut as a substitute during a disappointing 3-1 defeat at home to Coalville on Saturday.

Man to keep an eye on

Rob Hopley

Albion are short on cover with Anthony Brown and Nick Ryan, a first-choice pairing in defence, both ruled out by an injury.

The front man has filled in already at the back previously this season, and will have to do so again against the promotion-hopefuls.

Form guide (past six in league)

Witton W D L W D D

Warrington L L W W L D

Most recent meetings

Witton 1-3 Warrington (Cheshire FA Senior Cup Second Round, February 14 2017)

Warrington 4-2 Witton (NPL Division One North, March 28 2016)

Witton 1-1 Warrington (NPL Division One North, December 26 2015)

Familiar faces

Two former Witton players – defensive duo Adam Carden and Liam Goulding – were part of Warrington’s starting line-up for a 3-1 home defeat against Coalville on Saturday.

A third, attacker Scott Bakkor, came on as a substitute in the second-half of the same game.

Teenager Jamie Davis also made a handful of appearances for Albion last term, all but one of them in cup competitions.

Meanwhile Will Jones and Steven Tames have both had brief spells with Warrington in their career.

Odds

Witton 7/5

Draw 13/5

Warrington 7/5

Essential information

When Tuesday, December 26

Kick-off 3pm

Address Wincham Park, Chapel Street, Wincham, Northwich CW9 6DA

Admission Adults £10, Concessions (OAP/Students) £7, Under 18s £3, Members of HM Armed Forces Free

Parking Free at the ground