RIVAL clubs Darwen and Nelson are strangely reluctant to battle it out in the big derby clash in the Worthington Challenge Trophy tomorrow at the Anchor Ground.

Both sides would rather be playing league games following weeks of postponements due to waterlogged pitches.

Nelson are fairing slightly better than Darwen, having played 12 games in NWCFL Division Two this season.

But Darwen have played just eight and are lagging way behind the likes of Padiham, who have played 14.

"Next Tuesday we play our ninth league game of the season, and we are nearly in December," boss Steve Wilkes complained. "We have 30 league games to fit in and I don't know how we are going to do it.

"We have just got the fixtures through for December and we are not even playing on Saturday 16! And there are no midweek games.

"It is such a struggle to get the games on and the pitches are so saturated they reckon if it rains just a little bit now most of the pitches will be unfit to play on. We are still going to be playing in July!"

Nelson boss John Bailey agreed: "I can echo that. It seems we are only playing in the league once every three weeks." The two sides have met once this season, Nelson running out 2-1 winners in their home league fixture.

"Games between the two sides always seem to be a good tussle," said Bailey. "There is no bad feeling but it is a local derby and there is pride at stake."

Wilkes ehcoed his opponent's sentiments: "We'll take this game seriously. We are not going to treat it like we are not bothered.

"It is the League cup and the First Division are involved too, so we might get drawn against a bigger team which could be a yardstick to see how far we have come.

"They beat us about five weeks ago at their place. In fact, I think that was the last time we played a league game!"

Jimmy Khan missed Darwen's 2-0 win over Tetley Walker with 'flu on Tuesday but could play. Nelson's Nigel Coates is doubtful with an achilles injury.