After an injury plagued pre-season programme that has seen Dave Birch and Mike Norton missing numerous key players for the majority of the friendly fixtures, the competitive games start tomorrow when The Millers visit Stafford Town.

The two sides met twice last season, The Millers coming out on top on both occasions, goals by Benito Lowe (2), Jake Pollard, Joe Bevan and Teddy Osipitan securing a 5-1 victory at Church Lane, before Lowe, Darren McKnight and Akim Samms scored to earn three points at Evans Park later in the season.

Team News - Elliot Cooke suffered a dislocated shoulder in pre-season and is out for several more weeks, while striker James Kalu is also likely to miss out with an ankle injury picked up against Stockport County Under 19's. New signings Harrison Cunningham and Marcus Dibble are expected to pair up in central defence with Adam Muir and Chris Rogers the likely candidates to replace Cooke at right back. After enduring a frustrating pre-season injury wise John Cofie is in contention for a starting place after training in midweek and fellow attacker George Howarth is a likely starter after impressing in pre-season. Darren McKnight and Akim Samms have been in fine form during the friendly fixtures and look raring to go for the new campaign, while captain Mason Fallon also returned to training in the week after picking up an injury at Winsford United several weeks ago.