GRAHAM Turner insists Hereford United must be at their 'very, very best' tonight to oust Macclesfield Town and take another giant step towards the LDV Vans Trophy final.

The Bulls are underdogs for the northern semi-final at Town's Moss Rose (7.45), but Turner's side have thrived on their giant-killing status in previous rounds.

Mansfield, Port Vale and Scunthorpe all fell victim to United and the Edgar Street chief is now plotting the downfall of the struggling Silkmen, who crashed 5-0 at Northampton in League Two on Saturday.

"It's a nice game for the club, the players and our supporters," said Turner.

"We've beaten some good sides to get here and we want to progress further. We are only a few games away from a big final. We will approach the game with the same mentality we always have. We want to win the game.

"It's another chance to play against another Football League team and another chance of causing an upset. We've done that against Mansfield, Port Vale and Scunthorpe.

"Macclesfield came into a lot of trouble on Saturday, losing 5-0, and that could be the last thing we wanted because they will be desperate to put that right.

"We've got to be at our very best to beat them. We certainly have the ability to get a good result."

Turner may be forced to make changes in Cheshire. In-form striker Adam Stansfield came off with a hip injury during United's 2-1 win at Crawley and is doubtful, while midfielder Rob Purdie is feeling the effects of a virus.

Guy Ipoua, scorer of Hereford's late winner on Saturday, will start if Stansfield fails his fitness test.

The Silkmen beat Chesterfield, Rotherham United and Cambridge United to get to this stage of the competition, the furthest in their history.

Macclesfield manager Brian Horton, who led Port Vale to Trophy glory in 2001, is confident of replicating "'one of the best days of my sporting life".

Horton said: "I'd accept that we are favourites because we're in a higher league. But I don't think for a minute that we're in for an easy game against a club that I've got a lot of respect for.

"Hereford will be up for it and they'll have a right go. We're three games away from the final and I'd love to take Macclesfield to the Millennium Stadium.

"It's a fabulous football arena and I had one of the best days of my football life there with Vale."