LOCAL pride is at stake and a place in the third round of the Lancashire Trophy awaits as Lancaster City and Morecambe go head to head next Tuesday night in the game everyone is talking about.

Derbies between the Lune rivals are always something special but opposing managers Phil Wilson and Sammy McIlroy both need to focus their troops on big Saturday matches first.

Ahead of the Giant Axe showdown City make the trip to Hucknall Town while Morecambe host Conference high-flyers Grays Athletic.

"I am looking forward to the Morecambe game because it is a special occasion," says Wilson. "But before that we have a tough game away at Hucknall to contend with.

"A good finish in Conference North is a priority but the Lancashire Trophy is a nice diversion and it will be a good test for my players.

"People do not realise how young the Lancaster squad is this year. My two strikers are 19 and 20 and my full back is 19.

"If you look through my side I only have two or three players with any sort of real experience.

"And a game against Morecambe will be a cracking test to see just how far we have come and how far we have to go.

"And if Morecambe do not treat the game seriously or bring a weakened side to us they might just get a nasty shock on the night."

The rivals last met in February in the FA Trophy fourth round and when Ryan Elderton put the Dolly Blues ahead it should have been 3-0.

But Peter Thomson had misfired when clear on goal twice and that was all the incentive Morecambe needed to fight back.

Garry Hunter levelled before Danny Carlton won it for the Shrimps on a memorable day.

And those passions are sure to be stirred again on Tuesday night.

It will be McIlroy's first taste of a Lune derby after he took over from Jim Harvey on a caretaker basis while the regular manager recovers from his heart attack.

Like Wilson, McIlroy wants to concentrate on the league first with Grays in town on Saturday, a tough test for his men as they look to bounce back from their 1-0 loss at Gravesend and Northfleet.

"It's a good test on Saturday because Grays are a form side and we need to compete with the likes of them," says McIlroy.

"And Tuesday will be a good night because I am led to believe there will be a cracking atmosphere. It will be a good night."