Scarborough's new found form faces a big test tomorrow as they entertain Southport in the Nationwide Conference.

The Merseysiders, managed by former Liverpool, Southampton and England defender Mark Wright, occupy third spot in the table and appear ready to take advantage of any slip-up by runaway leaders Yeovil in the race for promotion to the Football League.

Seven league victories away from home is testimony to their credentials, and the impressive 1-0 win at Yeovil last week - ending the leaders' 100 per cent home record - merely accentuates their capabilities.

However, Scarborough themselves have gone eight matches unbeaten and three points tomorrow could see them moving up to sixth in the table.

"Southport are in a rich vein of form at the moment," said Boro player-boss Neil Thompson.

"We got beat 3-1 a their place earlier in the season and they are a strong team."

"But we're not playing badly ourselves and I believe we've got a good chance of taking the points. I'm sure it will be a keenly contested game."

As Boro's game at Kingstonian last week was frozen off, striker Steve Brodie - who was selected this week for England's semi-professional squad that faces Wales next month - and Thompson himself had extra time to recover from hamstring injuries.

Brodie is now set to start tomorrow having come through an hour of the reserves' 1-0 defeat at Hull on Wednesday, while Thompson, who has been suffering from 'flu which forced him to miss that midweek clash, might settle for a place on the bench.

Impressive French youngster Romain Faure could continue at sweeper if Thompson doesn't make it, while David Pounder will probably make way for Brodie by dropping back into midfield and filling in for the suspended Denny Ingram.

Scarborough (probable): Woods, Russell, Rennison, Faure, Ellender, Brunton, Stoker, Williams, Pounder, Diallo, Brodie. Subs from Newton, Thompson, Morris, Windross and Gildea.

Updated: 12:00 Friday, January 26, 2001