DEFENSIVE rock Kieran Charnock is hoping he can be Accrington’s lucky charm as Stanley set foot into the Aldershot Town cauldron determined to creep further away from the League Two drop zone.

Stanley are battling for their League Two lives but make the long trip to Hampshire tomorrow high on confidence - and will face a struggling team with a record of just three points from the last 27 available.

But hard man Charnock has another reason to believe it could be Stanley’s day at the Recreation Ground.

“I have played at Aldershot a few times in the past and always done pretty well down there,” he said. “It is a tough place to go with their fans and they are a big side who make it awkward for you.

“But we are defending well at the moment and not that far away from a few wins and we go down there feeling confident.”

Charnock was at the heart of a Tuesday fight night when he tussled with Luton’s giant striker Sam Parkin, shedding blood and collecting a few stitches along the way.

But he is undaunted ahead of what is sure to be another bone-crunching battle and added: “Parkin is a big lad and knew when to leave his head and arms in.

“But that is part and parcel of the game and if you get a few cuts and bruises you just have to pick yourself up and get on with it.

“And the gaffer probably got it right when he told me that he had suffered worse cuts while shaving.

“Seriously though, you are going to get a few knocks in my position.”

While Stanley are not quite clicking in front of goal - they have gone 312 minutes since their last goal - Charnock and his defensive colleagues are leading the desperate fight for survival from the back.

“As a defender you don’t want to concede goals and, at the moment, we are doing okay in that department. At the other end the strikers are playing well but not getting the breaks in front of goal.

“But then again, it is not just down to them to score. We all need to chip in. I am trying my best at corners and set-pieces but not quite getting on the end of them.”

He added: “We know that we are fighting a battle at the moment but we are confident and, to be honest, the dressing room is good.

“No-one is down and miserable and we believe that we are more than capable of getting away from the bottom end.”

The Preston-born Charnock is loving his new lease of life at the Fraser Eagle Stadium while on his season-long loan from Peterborough United.

And he admits that he would be happy to consider a full-time move to Stanley in the summer - if Peterborough will release him.

“I am grateful to everyone at Stanley for giving me the chance and I hope I am repaying it,” he said.

“Obviously I am still a Peterborough player and will probably have to go back there at the end of the season, especially if they make the play-offs.

“But in an ideal world, Peterborough will go up automatically to the Championship and that might free me up.

“If that happens I will certainly consider moving to Stanley. It is nice to be back up north and I am enjoying my football.

“And a win or two will make life even better.”