By Matt Lawton
November 25 2003

Leigh RMI make the trip to Staffordshire tomorrow evening to take on FA Cup giantkillers Burton Albion in a vital Conference game. The hosts are comfortable in a mid-table slot of 13th in the Conference, ten points clear of RMI who occupy the last spot in the relegation zone, only one point behind Tamworth and consequently only a point away from safety.

Burton, however, are full of confidence after defeating Third Division outfit Torquay United 2-1 in the First Round of the FA Cup, in the Gulls' Devon backyard of Plainmoor.

RMI make the trip looking to continue their recently improved form. Despite winning only once since the end of August, a 1-0 victory at league leaders Hereford United last month, RMI's recent form has seen a marked improvement, with the past two outings resulting in home draws with high-flying former Football League sides Shrewsbury Town and Exeter City.

Prior to these two games, RMI conceded nine goals in two outings, but the Railwaymen produced convincingly good performances against both the Shrews and Grecians this week, instilling a renewed sense of confidence amongst an RMI support who had almost consigned themselves to relegation, even at this early stage of the season.

RMI manager Phil Starbuck has a virtually full strength side to choose from following the return of former Barnsley winger Carl Barrowclough to the starting line up in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Exeter after missing the previous two games with a hamstring injury he picked up in the 4-1 home defeat against Scarborough a fortnight ago.

Barrowclough wasn't originally lined up to return to the side on Saturday but was a late inclusion after Ian Monk was struck down with a bout of 'flu. Barrowclough certainly disappoint as he produced an excellent performance, although he was withdrawn from the action before the end, with Starbuck and his management team mindful of Barrowclough's injury and tomorrow evening's game.

RMI midfielder Warren Peyton was also withdrawn from the action on Saturday with a slight injury, but he is expected to be fit for the trip to Eton Park, as is former Manchester City and Bury midfielder Steve Redmond who was injured the Hilton Park defeat against Scarborough two weeks ago.

Although Peyton's return to the side is more than clear-cut, with the former Yeovil midfielder impressive in recent weeks, none the least on Saturday, Redmond's return is less than likely, with the RMI assistant boss more likely to be starting on the substitutes bench rather than on the field, following the hugely impressively performances of his replacement, recent signing Carl Rezai.

Former Blackpool defender-cum-midfielder Wayne Maden, who scored his second goal in four games on Saturday, is set to partner Rezai in an RMI midfield that has been much improved in the past two games, with former Exeter City left winger Andy Roscoe providing an upsurge in his previously poor form.

The hosts will be without former Nottingham Forest centre back Steve Chettle who is on the sidelines with a back injury, while Glenn Kirkwood and Andy Ducros are unavailable because of illness, with 'flu and chickenpox respectively. Returning to the side will be Jon Howard, who has recovered from an ankle injury, while former Oldham Athletic midfielder Craig Dudley returns after recovering from a car crash.

RMI have a one hundred percent record against the Brewers, with last season's 1-0 victory in their first ever visit to Eton Park being a particular highlight of the season, while Dino Maamria hit the target twice in a 4-2 victory at Hilton Park.

Although RMI make the trip still in the relegation zone, they will be confident of repeating last season's victories, along with their excellent performances against Shrewsbury and Exeter and in turn return to Lancashire with at least a point under their belt.