HOLDERS Darwen entertain Walsden tomorrow looking to reach the last eight of the Worsley Cup.

The Birch Hall side won the competition on debut last season and remain on course for a repeat following a first round success over Great Harwood.

Mark Friend’s side have started the Lancashire League season well as they bid to build on a runners-up position in 2017, and have won four of their opening five games.

But they face a tough test against league newcomers Walsden who have a 100 per cent record in the league and sit just two points behind Ramsbottom who are the early pace setters.

Rammy themselves are in action and will be favourites to book a quarter-final berth as they take on Rawtenstall at Acre Bottom.

Burnley, who won four straight Worsley Cups until their run was ended last season, entertain Bacup at Turf Moor.

Visiting skipper Tim Farragher knows it will be a tall order for his side but remains optimistic of causing an upset.

“We know Burnley are a good team and we will need to be on top of our game to beat them and they will need to drop their level a little bit,” he said.

“But we are going into the game on the back of a win in the league and in a one-off cup game anything can happen.

“It is going to take an upset for us to win but we have got players capable of producing big performances.”

Bacup last won the cup in 1993 and Farragher admits it would be nice to enjoy a run in the competition.

“The Worsley Cup is a big thing and it would be great to reach the latter stages,” he added.

Elsewhere, Church, losing finalists last season, are at home to Lowerhouse at Blackburn Road while Todmorden travel to Rochdale. The other ties see Colne entertain Norden, Rishton host Middleton and Crompton visit Milnrow.