JOINT boss Paul Hurst is hopeful Grimsby Town's delayed FA Trophy tie at Bath City will go ahead tonight with the prize of a home quarter-final tie up for grabs.

Town head to the south west to face the Romans after Saturday's original game fell victim to the weekend's big freeze across the country.

But the Town team are ready to try again tonight and with yesterday's last-eight draw handing them a possible home clash with York City or Ebbsfleet United – who play theirs a week tonight after another postponement – it's an added incentive to take a step closer to May's Wembley final.

First, though, they must extend a run of one defeat in 20 games at Twerton Park and beat a team they hit for six last month.

Hurst said: "We want to get the game played.

"We are in a good run of form and when you are, you want the games to come thick and fast and maintain the momentum.

"Of course, we want it to be right and not a farce because it's been forced on when it shouldn't have been.

"It's not our decision; we will just get on with it no matter what.

"We have prepared for it to be on. I'm sure some if not all will go ahead today.

"You can't do anything about the weather but you don't want the break to be too long when you are in decent form like we are; you want to keep that going."

Bath officials are confident the game will go ahead at the second attempt after assessing the pitch yesterday but another inspection will take place at noon today.

And Hurst hopes it is on with a potential fixture back-log arising from another postponement.

Town have already had to rearrange their league trip to Tamworth for a third time after the Trophy tie was put back in its place tonight.

But the positive aspect to a busy fixture list, as far as the boss and his colleague Rob Scott are concerned, is the chance to maintain the good form that earned the pair the Blue Square Bet Premier Manager of the Month award for January.

Hurst went on: "We have already had to rearrange the trip to Tamworth who we were meant to be playing tonight.

"They have a backlog already and the two clubs have had to get permission from the Conference for a new proposed date.

"In terms of the league, though, we are a game ahead of a couple of teams.

"This is where it comes down to being a squad game and having players fit.

"Of course, picking up injuries is all about luck.

"But if the players are fit then you have the options if the fixtures do pile up a bit.

"We are still in the FA Trophy and we are striving for success in that.

"And we've got ourselves into a good position in the league as well.

"Every game could be a big game for us now, but that makes it easier to keep the players motivated.

"When you are winning matches, you look forward to playing.

"As a player, I would always rather have played than train when things are going well."