RCA will be hoping home advantage can count as they look for revenge after the Mariners beat them at Filtrona Park last week to secure promotion from Division Two of the Northern League.

But Shields failed to build on that victory, drawing their last league game of the season 2-2 at Darlington RA on Friday night.

It was a result – and performance – that failed to impress Steadman, after he gave players the chance to stake their claim for a semi-final start tonight.

"I thought that the last time we had a good win, against Penrith, we played poorly the next time out against Norton, so I decided to change the team a bit," he said.

"But we couldn't lift our game. It's sad that it seems we can only lift our game against the better teams at the minute.

"A couple of them had the chance to perform, but some didn't take it. It makes my job a bit easier tonight.

"They didn't do themselves justice. The difference was that they were up for it more than we were."

Former Sunderland star Craig Russell and Lee O'Donovan both missed the Darlington game, but should be available tonight, though winger Chris Feasey is missing after he was forced off with injury after just 20 minutes on Friday night.

And Steadman insists that there has never been a better time to play RCA after their recent disappointments.

The side, managed by former Shields boss Neil Hixon, has put together a fantastic run since the turn of the year to put themselves on the brink of promotion.

But they collapsed in recent weeks, with defeat against Shields last Tuesday meaning they had a winner-takes-all clash with Ryton to decide who clinched the last Division Two promotion spot.

It was Ryton who prevailed, however, winning 1-0 to extinguish any chance RCA had of going up.

Steadman added: "We couldn't have picked a better time to play RCA, after they lost to Ryton on Saturday.

"How you pick them up from that, I don't know. They were on the best run of everyone, but have found how it can all fall apart.

"For us to get to the final would be tremendous. It would make up for the major disappointment of not winning the championship.

"I'm not going to beat myself up about it, but at times you look back over games this season and wonder 'what if'.

"So to finish second, and maybe win a cup, would be a great season."

* If you can't make the game, log on to www.shieldsgazette.com tonight for news on how Shields got on.