THERE is more than local bragging rights at stake as Supermarine travel to Cirencester for the eagerly awaited Boxing Day derby.

The sparks usually fly when Marine boss Ray Baverstock and his band of former Ciren players tackle their previous employer.

But this time the two clubs are neck and neck in the Dr Martens Western Division and whoever wins at the Corinium Stadium will steal a march on their rivals in the race for a top-seven finish and an invitation to a revamped Premier Division.

Hosts Ciren currently occupy 10th, level on 26 points with Marine who are a place below in the table.

There has also been little to choose between the two sides when they have crossed paths this season.

A Dave Toomey penalty was enough to give Marine a 1-0 win in the reverse fixture at the end of August, but Ciren gained revenge with a 3-1 FA Cup triumph at the Corinium three weeks later.

Baverstock is expecting a tough return to the club he parted company with in acrimonious fashion in summer 2002.

"Ciren have a very good side this year and it will be a difficult test.

"They've got some good forwards we will have to stop if we are going to get anything from the game, and we have to start taking our chances in front of goal.

"The local rivalry comes into it too and I'm sure the sparks will fly."

Baverstock welcomes back goalkeeper Tom King, defender Chris Copp and ex-Ciren midfielder Sean Terry.

The trio served one-match bans and missed the 1-0 defeat at home to Solihull on Saturday.

Long-term absentees aside, Ciren boss Brian Hughes has a full complement of players at his disposal.

But the manager's biggest concern ahead of the clash is his troops' lack of match practice.

The postponment of their trip to Sutton Coldfield on Saturday means the Centurions have not played since the goalless draw at Bromsgrove on December 6.

Hughes said: "The last two games against them have been tight and this should be no exception.

"My only concern is how rusty we might be because we haven't played for three weeks."

The match kicks off at 3pm.