By Matt Lawton
March 19 2004

FA Cup heroes and Conference moneybags Telford United make the trip north to Hilton Park on Saturday afternoon for what is a hugely vital game for Leigh RMI. RMI will be desperate for victory as they look to try and start to close the eleven point gap that has opened up between them and the safety line following Scarborough's 1-0 home defeat to relegation rivals Tamworth on Tuesday evening.

Leigh boss Phil Starbuck is boosted with the news that he has a fully-fit squad to choose from, with Warren Peyton, Carl Rezai, Steve Redmond and Wayne Maden all available again after serving suspensions. Starbuck was dealt a blow earlier in the week when striker Steve Brodie, who scored four goals in five games during a spell on loan from Chester City, turned down a more permanent deal with RMI in favour of a move to Unibond Premier League high-flyers Droylsden following his release from the Conference leaders.

However, the blow has been softened with the signing of Tristram Whitman on a month's loan from Scarborough, who should immediately fill the gap left by Brodie in the RMI starting eleven on Saturday afternoon.

For the visitors, midfielder Robin Hulbert is a doubt after suffering a calf injury during his side's midweek FA Trophy success over rivals Shrewsbury, although Neil Howarth and Richard Lavery both came through the same game unscathed after they returned from ankle and knee injuries respectively.