Workington Reds face a trek to the north-east if they can get past Marine in tonight’s replay.

The west Cumbrians have work to do before they can contemplate a trip to Dunstan as they have a few injury issues ahead of the return game on Merseyside.

Assistant manager Steven Rudd said: “We have a few knocks and niggles to consider ahead of the replay and with two games over the weekend coming up, Saturday and Bank Holiday Monday coming-up we won’t be taking any risks.

“It’s always good to have a cup run, for the club, fans and players but promotion is the main target and it’s no good taking risks with players and then losing six League points over the weekend.”

Reds entertain Marine again on Saturday, this time in the NPL West where they sit first and second, before travelling to Clitheroe for the Bank Holiday Monday game.

Marine, Clitheroe, Warrington Rylands and Kidsgrove have been identified by manager Chris Willcock as potential rivals for top spot come the end of the season.

“If we can get through then Dunstan will be tough opponents I imagine. They got a few from South Shields in the summer and will be a force in their League,” said Rudd.

That hadn’t been reflected so far in their results in NPL East where they have only a point from their first two games.

They got through to the first qualifying round with a win in the north-east on Saturday, beating Newcastle Benfield 2-1.

Reds should have been travelling to Warrington Rylands tonight in the League, which in itself was a big test and would have given the Cumbrians three successive games against clubs picked-out by Willcock as potential threats to a title-winning campaign.