ANDY Todd is ready to defy Accrington Stanley's recent league form and have a brush with success in the Johnstone's Paint Trophy.

The Reds go into tonight's northern section quarter-final at Doncaster Rovers on the back of five straight league defeats.

But winger Todd sees their trip to Belle Vue - their third meeting with League One opposition in this competition - as not only the chance to put their losing streak behind them, but also the perfect preparation for Saturday's League Two showdown with Shrewsbury at the Fraser Eagle Stadium.

"It's been weird. The games we lost against Hereford, Peterborough and for about 50 or 60 minutes against Hartlepool, we've played some of our best football this season," he said.

"But mistakes have been punished at this level, whereas perhaps they wouldn't have been in the Conference.

"That's something we're finding out. So we've got to cut down or cut out as many mistakes as possible. On top of that we're being punished for missing chances.

"But I'm sure the lads will have a point to prove tonight, particularly as it's against a team that, on paper, is better than us.

"We go into it as underdogs, and with it being the cup, the pressure isn't on us to get points.

"But, at the same time, the result's still important because we're looking to get to the northern semi-finals.

"We've won the last two rounds, against Carlisle and Blackpool, and even though they were on penalty shoot-outs I think, over the 90 minutes, we deserved to go through."

And Todd believes a hat-trick of League One scalps will go a long way to helping Stanley turn their season around.

"It's a game we can get a bit of a lift out of if we do well, and take that into the league against Shrewsbury on Saturday," he said.

"The mood's still decent, but it will be brilliant for the lads if we can win tonight.

"Also, if the manager changes a few things around it will give players the chance to showcase themselves for Saturday.

"With the changes that have been made recently we've got competition for places and hopefully we can benefit from that."