Lee Duxbury is hoping Athletic can live up to their billing as pre-match favourites ahead of tonight's Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Morecambe at Boundary Park.

The Shrimps have yet to win a game this season and slipped to 18th place in League Two following Saturday's 2-1 defeat against Dagenham & Redbridge.

But Sammy McIlroy's side are a force to be wary of according to the reserve team coach, who stepped into the breach on press duties with John Sheridan and Tommy Wright away on a coaching course.

And Athletic will be going all out to win the game with a potential glamour trip to Wembley up for grabs.

"These matches are always difficult because Morecambe will come here as underdogs and with nothing to lose," he said.

"They are the away team and will come to Boundary Park looking to enjoy themselves.

"This competition is an opportunity - we've just been saying in the changing rooms that we have a chance to get to Wembley.

"It could be an exciting game because we're a side that looks like we've got goals in us, and we're defending reasonably well.

"One area we could improve is keeping the ball better up front, and that doesn't just apply to the two strikers who start the game.

"That means all the forwards - they should be concentrating on improving that part of their game, which we try to do in training."