ASHTON UNITED carry the Tameside standard in the Pitching In NPL premier division. While they are unbeaten and in eighth place, the table makes pretty grim reading for Stalybridge Celtic and Hyde United who are both in the bottom three and without a win.
The Robins head to Matlock tomorrow (Saturday) where they will come up against former boss Paul Phillips and a Gladiators side that is only two places and a single point behind them.
Manager Michael Clegg's sole absentee is suspended midfielder John Pritchard. Otherwise he has a full squad to choose from.
Rock-bottom STALYBRIDGE CELTIC, who have lost their last three matches, have a virtually clean bill of health as they try to get their season back on track after last week's shock FA Cup defeat by NWCL Longridge Town.
Charley Doyle, Nic Evangelinos, Freddie Sass and Ben Woods are all available, leaving only Keano Deacon on the injury list.
Loan signings Will Goodwin and Jordan Helliwell have been added to the squad. Striker Goodwin has joined from Chester on a three-month agreement and defender Helliwell arrives on an initial one-month dal from Championship club Barnsley.
Fit-again Janni Lipka should make his first appearance of the season for HYDE UNITED who are away to Stafford Rangers, the club lying between them and Stalybridge at the foot of the division.
It's also understood that a Hyde player may have coronavirus issues related to a family member. Ashley Young has left Ewen Fields to take up a teaching post in China.
In the first division north west, MOSSLEY have to make the long journey up to Workington as they attempt to rediscover their early promise. After winning their first four games they have lost the last three.
Keaton Mulvey has a minor knee injury but is expected to be fit. A foot injury continues to rule out Ben Richardson.
Paul Riley has joined Wythenshawe Amateurs on a dual registration to gain match sharpness.
Manager Peter Band says Harry Hatton and Mark Haslam are in the mix for a recall as GLOSSOP NORTH END take on Kidsgrove Athletic at the Amdec Forklifts Stadium. Lee Wilshaw and Yves Zama are injured.
In National League North, CURZON ASHTON could be heading for Brackley at just the right time. The Northants outfit needed penalties to beat Billericay in the FA Cup and lost 3-0 at Telford last week.
Admitting the mixed start has left him frustrated, manager Kevin Wilkin commented: "We are having to play some lads out of position because of the injury problems we have and that doesn't help the situation.
"We have shipped five goals in two games and I'm not sure we even conceded three in one game last season."
Brackley could be without three key players: defender and team captain Gaz Dean, midfielder Glenn Walker and striker Ash Chambers.
Midfielder Dale Whitham, who missed the 1-1 draw with Alfreton, could be Steve Cunningham's only doubt, but the Nash boss will be delighted that former Harrogate Town striker Dom Knowles supplied Monday's goal.