SCARBOROUGH travel to Northwhich Victoria tonight for a Nationwide Conference game which manager Neil Thompson admits will be tough.

"We have got to be on our toes from the very first minute to the last, because I expect this game to be a strong physical battle and I shall need players with big hearts out there if we are to get our first point at Northwich since we fell into the Conference," said Thompson.

Thompson has injury doubts over fullback Christian Short and Jamie Burt and both will have late fitness tests to see whether they can keep their places.

Defenfer Paul Ellender has joined Boston United but transfer activity regarding Steve Brodie is on hold at the moment. Last year's leading scorer could well move off the bench to partner Darryn Stamp, who got the equaliser against Forest Green on Saturday.

Former York City player James Turley is likely to get a substitute's berth and Gareth Stoker could return in midfield if Short fails his fitness test, with Denny Ingram dropping back into defence.

Northwich started their campaign with a surprise 3-2 win at Yeovil and Jimmy Quinn's team could be dark horses in the league this term.

Scarborough from: Woods, Short, Rennison, Ingram, Faure, Fitzsimmons, Pounder, Blunt, Stamp, Burt, Newton, Brodie, Stoker, Fickling, Turley.

Updated: 11:47 Tuesday, August 21, 2001