Wary skipper Ian Sharps has urged Shrewsbury Town not to underestimate Bradford City tomorrow – despite a sorry campaign for the pre-season promotion favourites.

Town head to Valley Parade for a game crucial to their own chances of automatic promotion and one that is the only League encounter in England to kick off at 3pm.

The other League One and Two matches this weekend have either changed kick off times tomorrow or been moved to tonight or Sunday to avoid a clash with England’s Euro 2012 qualifier in Wales.

But talks between Town and Bradford over moving the kick off tomorrow ended in stalemate.

And Town boss Graham Turner today clarified the Shrewsbury position.

“Their previous manager (Peter Taylor) didn’t want to change the kick off,” said the Town boss.

“We had a phone call when Peter Jackson took over asking for a 12 noon or 1pm kick off.

“We would have had incurred overnight expenses had that have been the case and we asked Bradford to pay for that.

“At no stage were we asked to play on the Friday night and, with us playing Rotherham on Tuesday, I would have been happy to do that.”

Meanwhile, Sharps insists Bradford must be respected tomorrow, despite them languishing in 19th place.

“We can’t underestimate Bradford,” the Town captain cautioned.

“Things didn’t work out for them under the previous manager.

“But the current one will be desperate for a win to try and get the job and the players will want to prove themselves for next season.”

Turner will make a late check on defender Shane Cansdell-Sherriff who was due to return from an Australian training camp in Germany later today.

Suspended full-back Jermaine Grandison and new recruit Niall Canavan — who is away with Republic of Ireland under 21s — are the only absentees.

By JAMES GARRISON