Boss Rob Smith has told his injury-ravaged AFC Telford United squad to use tonight’s Setanta Shield northern area final at Barrow (7.45pm) as a “marker” of their progress.

Smith has up to a dozen players ruled out this evening and has raided the youth team, bringing in Scott Embury and Justin Worthington, to strengthen his hand for a match worth at least £18,000 to the victors.

The winners this evening will bag £10,000, while there is a further £8,000 for the national runners-up and £16,000 for the side that eventually lifts the shield. 

The Bucks were beaten at home and away by the Bluebirds in the Blue Square North last season, then suffered the same fate in the play-offs as the Cumbrian side marched on to promotion. 

In total, Barrow netted 10 goals against the Bucks and conceded none – something Smith is keen to put right.

“It would just be nice to score against them,” he joked. “I thought they were a quality side last year and were simply too good for us. 

“We want to use them as some sort of marker – they had an unbelievable run in the second half of last season and anyone doing the same thing this season will be promoted.” 

Defenders Gavin Cowan and Lee Vaughan are suspended tonight, having accumulated five yellow cards.

Recent signings Danny Edwards and Phil Trainer are both cup-tied, having played in the earlier rounds of the competition for Redditch and Oxford respectively.

And the injury list makes for eye-watering reading. Defender Martyn Naylor and midfielders Carl Rodgers and Steve Jagielka are all out for sure, while wing-back Simon Forsdick and striker Andy Brown will be on the bench at best. 

Liam Blakeman (calf) and Lee Moore (ankle) were both initially ruled out after hobbling off in Saturday’s victory at Tamworth, but overnight reports on their condition are more positive.

By CHRIS HUDSON