RUSHDEN & Diamonds' line-up will feature a striker who conjures up painful memories for Worcester City fans.

Scott Partridge was the player who inflicted FA Cup heartache on City when he scored the winner with Torquay United three years ago at the same stage.

Now he is back with the in-form Northamptonshire side who are currently unbeaten in 11 games in their debut season in the Nationwide League Division Three.

The club's rise to the Football League since its creation in 1992 has been a fairytale journey, financed by millionaire Max Griggs (the man behind Dr Martens).

Manager Brian Talbot, an FA Cup winner with Ipswich Town in 1978 and Arsenal the following year, has assembled a squad that is pressing hard just behind the promotion play-off places.

If City are to win the match they will have to breach the defences of former Evesham United 'keeper Billy Turley who kept goal for the Robins in the mid-1990s.

Turley was sent off in successive matches in September -- the fifth time in 18 months -- but will take his place in goal tomorrow.

Jamaican World Cup star, Paul Hall, who signed from Walsall in the summer, is another dangerman as is midfielder Ritchie Hanlon who has scored three goals since his summer move from Peterborough.

Striker Duane Darby, the club's leading goal scorer last season, is a major doubt after suffering concussion following a collision in the victory against Halifax Town at the weekend.

He will have a medical today to review his progress but teenager Robert Duffy is standing by.

City have yet to beat Rushden in six meetings, although all three clashes at St George's Lane ended in draws.