THE pupil takes on the master tonight when Gary Steadman and Richie McLoughlin clash at Filtrona Park.
The pair meet in the Durham Challenge Cup as South Shields host neighbours Jarrow Roofing (kick-off 7.30pm).
Steadman played for McLoughlin twice in his career, and will be looking at getting one over his former boss as he eyes silverware this se
ason.
And while he may be without the suspended Tony Coe and David Graham, the injured Duncan O'Brien, and skipper Lee Paul Scroggins, the Mariners manager still wants to put a strong side out.
He said: "I played for Richie when I was about 18 when they were in the Alliance, and then again when I was about 28 or 30 in a second spell. I have always got on well with him.
"I am not really sure what team he'll be putting out tonight, or how seriously they'll take this cup with them going for promotion.
"They beat us in pre-season, but I don't really count that. I've watched them a couple of times since and they have some decent players.
"I'm looking to go quite strong. I would like to win a cup, and if we get lucky with the draws, I'd fancy us.
"We're not going to win the league, and with Spennymoor out and Whitley Bay in the Northumberland Senior Cup, it's wide open."
Shields go into the derby in good spirits, having extended their current winning streak to four matches at the weekend, courtesy of a 4-2 win over Esh Winning.
Goalkeeper Niki Lawson is cup-tied, so youngster Chris Anderson will start between the posts for the Mariners.
Shields will know that Roofing have already claimed a Division One scalp in the competition, upsetting Spennymoor in the last round.
The after-effects of that win, however, may determine what side McLoughlin puts out tonight, as Roofing spent so much energy in that excellent victory, that they lost heavily to Guisborough in the league a few days later.
Both teams also have big games this weekend. Shields host title hopefuls Whitley Bay, while the Roofers face Division Two leaders Sunderland RCA.
