Andy Arnott and Adam Tanner are vying for the chance to make a rare start as Colchester United hit the LDV Vans Trophy trail at Cambridge United tonight (Tuesday).

The utility duo, who have enjoyed just three starts between them this season - two for Tanner and one for Arnott - come into the reckoning because the U's star defender Alan White is ruled out.

White will be absent because of a family bereavement and although skipper Simon Clark returned to training yesterday (Monday) following his recent car accident it is far too early for him to be included.

U's boss Steve Whitton said: "I will be adding Andy and Adam, plus Tony Lock, to the squad that played so well against Notts County on Saturday.

"We are still down to the bare bones because of injuries and illness and it looks as though one of them will have to play from the kick-off."

Heartened by the fact that Cambridge are facing a tough FA Cup trip to non-league Morecambe on Saturday, Whitton said: "This is the last cup competition left for us this season and it would be nice for us and our fans to do well in it.

"We all know where it can lead to if we do have a good run in it."

It was Whitton himself, then a mature but still sprightly midfielder, who netted the 89th-minute winner in another first round tie at Cambridge that led to a Wembley final in 1996-97 where the U's lost on penalties to Carlisle in the then Auto Windscreens Shield competition.

The U's chief added: "It would be nice to keep a little unbeaten run going. Winning breeds confidence and confidence breeds winning."

Goalkeeper Andy Woodman and striker Barry Conlon will both be playing the final games of their current loan spells.

This season's LDV competition includes eight Nationwide Conference clubs for the first time. They are Chester, Steve Wignall's Doncaster, Dover, Hereford, Morecambe, Rushden and Diamonds, Simon Bett's Scarborough and Yeovil.

Micky Cook's U's youngsters are also in action tonight in a Times AXA FA Youth Cup, third round replay against Stevenage Borough at Layer Road, kick-off 7.45pm, admission £4 (adults), £2 (concessions).

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.