WARRINGTON Town manager Paul Carden has urged South Shields to “bring it on” ahead of Saturday’s top-of-the-table clash.

The Evo-Stik Premier Division leaders visit Cantilever Park to meet third-place Yellows, with the game kicking off at 3pm.

Town have conceded just three goals in the league this season and they have played over 10 hours of football since a side from their division last breached their defence.

Since Lancaster City's Simon Wills opened the scoring in Yellows' second game of the season, Stalybridge, Bamber Bridge, North Ferriby, Workington, Hyde and Marine have all been shut out by the Town rearguard.

However, that proud record will come under its biggest test on Saturday.

READ: The last time Warrington Town conceded a league goal

South Shields regularly attract more than 1,000 supporters to their home games and are likely to bring a large away support to Cheshire, and Carden hopes Yellows fans will turn up in numbers to match them.

However, he admits he has a few “walking wounded” among his squad, with top scorer Tony Gray and left-back Adam Hughes among the players struggling with injury.

“As each game goes, they all get bigger and bigger no matter what competition it’s in,” he said.

“We’ve got a big one on Saturday. We’ll have to count the walking wounded and see what we’ve got to prepare for South Shields.

“Hopefully, we can play with the same sort of tempo we have been doing and be as tight at the back as we have been.

“The more support we can get, the better. It makes for a better atmosphere, which in turn makes for a better game.

“We’ll get the report and see what they are about. We’ll plan for their strengths and try to expose their weaknesses.

“I think they play in a similar way to us. They have a style of play with which they will look to cause us problems.

“We will be ready for it though. Bring it on!”

A big part of Town’s recent success has been their midfield, with Shaun Beeley and Rob Evans both forging successful partnerships with the ever-present Ben Garrity.

Evans is likely to partner Garrity again on Saturday, as he did for the 2-0 FA Cup second qualifying round replay win over Consett AFC on Tuesday night and the 3-3 draw in the original tie on Saturday.

READ: How Warrington Town eventually saw off Consett

READ: Paul Carden's post-match reaction

Carden says both players are learning constantly about the need to tighten up against certain styles of play, but he also says the team as a whole need to be “a bit tidier” in possession.

“I said to Ben and Robbie before Tuesday that I want them in the middle of the field because they work hard and they are good players,” he said.

“At times, though, they both want to be on the ball which means we are open.

“Against a team that play with a number 10, a good team can hurt you and Consett did on Saturday because we were too open.

“I thought both of them were outstanding on Tuesday, though.

“You can control a game without the ball. If you let the opposition have the ball where you want them to have it, you can control the game.

“At times on Tuesday, I was a bit disappointed that we were a bit hurried with our pass when we had kept our shape and forced the mistake to win the ball back.

“We need to be a bit better than that, because we can go on and punish teams more convincingly if we are a bit tidier.”

Town’s FA Cup victory earns them a home tie against National League North high-flyers AFC Telford United on Saturday, October 6.

While his side will start as underdogs, Carden believes the Bucks will not be relishing a trip to Cantilever Park.

“When the draw was made, I think both clubs (Yellows and Consett) would have been pleased with the draw,” he said.

“Telford will have looked at it and will be thinking it is a bit of a banana skin.

“We’ve got the league to concentrate on first, which is massive for us.”

Following the South Shields game, Yellows are at home again on Tuesday night when they host Mickleover Sports, kick off 7.45pm.