MICKY Moore has watched Shaw Lane in action – and he will not be underestimating tomorrow's FA Cup opponents.

The Bluebirds boss saw the Ducks beat Buxton 2-0 on Monday to move back to the top of Evo-Stik Northern Premier League.

It was an 11th win from 15 matches for the side who were only promoted to the division this season, and who started the campaign with back-to-back defeats.

There have been only two defeats in all competitions since then, as the likes of experienced strikers Paul Clayton and Damian Reeves have helped them prove formidable opposition for all-comers.

Radcliffe Borough, Blyth Spartans and Lancaster City have all fallen to Shaw Lane in their first-ever FA Cup run – never having won a game in the competition before this season – and Moore is expecting them to want to keep their form going against the Bluebirds tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

“We understand and appreciate that it is a difficult game,” said Moore, whose own side are looking to end a seven-game streak without a victory, dating back to the 2-1 home success against Boreham Wood on September 2. “Shaw Lane are a good team.

“We had them watched on Saturday, and I watched them myself on Monday night, and they're a good team. They've lost something like two of their last 13, and the manager Craig Elliott has done a great job there in their first season at that level to be sitting top of the table.

“It's a difficult tie, but the lads are looking forward to it. The atmosphere is good, especially after the last two performances – no, we haven't won, but the last two performances have been excellent. We will carry that into Sunday now.”

He added: “(Shaw Lane) and their manager have done really well to get the players they have on board. They've got players who have played at our level, played well at this level and affected this level.

“We're not treating them with any disrespect. We're massively respecting a very good side.

“I watched them play against Buxton on Monday night, when they won 2-0 and it could have been a lot more.

“People might look at it on paper and say we're playing a team two leagues below us, but it's going to be a tricky tie and we have to respect that.”

Barrow will have all three of their loan players – Jordon Thompson, Jimmy Dunne and Chris Clements – available for the trip to South Yorkshire, while there could also be an unexpected boost in attack.

Adi Yussuf returned to full training this week, having taken in some non-contact sessions previously, and Moore said there was the chance he could feature in some role for the FA Cup tie.

“Adi has been training non-contact, so now he will come into normal training and we will see how he is fitness-wise, and how the injury reacts,” said Moore.

Barrow reached the third round of the FA Cup for the first time since 2010 last season, defeating League One Bristol City at the Memorial Ground before bowing out to Rochdale in front of a full house at Holker Street.

That was a run which captured the imagination as AFC looked to reach the fourth round for the first time in their history, and Moore knows how important a good run in the competition can be.

“It's huge,” he said. “You look at Bedsente Gomis last year with Sutton, when they got to the fifth round against Arsenal.

“It's a fantastic competition, it's a competition we want to do well in.

“The club last year had it from both sides – they went to Taunton and it was a difficult tie, then they went to Bristol Rover, where they were not expected to win against a League One club, and they won to set up a third-round tie against Rochdale. The club have had a good run last year, and hopefully we can do the same again this year.”