It's a crunch game at the bottom of Northern League Division Two, with RA the only team below Hebburn in the standings.

The South Tynesiders sit second bottom of the table, two points ahead of their rivals, after a poor start to the season which saw manager David Rush resign.

Marsden was appointed on a caretaker basis at first, before being handed the reins full-time last week.

His first game in permanant charge against Team Northumbria ended in heartache, an injury-time goal denying Hebburn all three points.

He remains encouraged, however, and with a game against third-bottom Birtley Town following the RA clash, there is a genuine chance of putting vital points on the board.

Marsden has also been boosted by the return to the club of long-serving goalkeeper Gary Rogers, and he is confident the shot-stopper's vast ability will assist the fight against relegation.

Rogers is a local lad and Marsden has pledged to bring more players into the club from around South Tyneside after feeling this was something neglected by the previous management.

The 32-year-old said: "I'm trying to bring in players, and a bit of money has been made available by Neil Tatum, our sponsor.

"I'm not going to promise anything this season because of the start we've had. I just want to get us back on an even keel.

"I'm excited by the job. I've got good backing from Joe Donaghy and Colin Nesbit, who have got a lot of experience, and I'm hoping that with the good players we've already got, and one or two additions, we can get out of trouble.

"The support I have had from the committee and Neil Tatum has been superb, and I want to repay them."

Marsden has something of a defensive crisis on his hands, however, with Nesbit, Kyle Pendergood and Daniel Gray all unavailable.

That represents the heart of Hebburn's rearguard, but they have been boosted by the return of midfielder Karl McMann.