Stanley captain Luke Joyce hopes to give Morecambe more nightmares in tonight’s Halloween derby.

The Shrimps make the short trip to the Store First Stadium with Stanley aiming to maintain their remarkable record against their bitter rivals.

The two clubs have had 14 league meetings since joining the Football League and Morecambe have failed to win any while the Reds have won 10.

Stanley have trumphed in the last three and last season’s double was particularly sweet as Peter Murphy claimed a last-minute winner at the Globe Arena last October before Lee Molyneux scored twice as the Reds romped to a 5-1 home victory in March.

“I know Morecambe are desperate to get one over us and put an end to that record, especially with Jim Bentley now being their manager,” said Joyce.

“It’s going to be feisty and competitive, and we know we need to start well. There’ll be a good crowd and a good atmosphere, and we want to feed off that.

“It’ll be a tough game but it’s one we’re all excited about because we’ve done well over the years against them – and long may that continue!”

Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Newport left Stanley 16th in League Two but they are nine points clear of the drop zone and just three off the top seven.

Newport edged into the play-off places, though, and they are joint-seventh with Morecambe.

The Shrimps have lost five of their last eight league games after a 2-0 home defeat by Exeter last Sunday.

Joyce added: “We believe we’re a good team and when you look at the table and see Newport and Morecambe up there it does make you think ‘why not us as well?’

“If we can get the ball down and play our game then we can get another three points and climb the table.”

Michael Liddle has resumed training but Anthony Barry (knee) has joined Adam Buxton on the sidelines. Kal Naismith is still out of contention after being given as much time off as he needs after his girlfriend died last week.

“It was one of my saddest days in football when he told me,” said Reds’ boss John Coleman.

“You can have every qualification under the sun in football but nothing prepares you for days like that. We can’t rush him. We all respect what he’s going through – it’s so difficult.

“Kal is a smashing lad, he’s great to have around the place and he’s a good footballer but you never know how people deal with things like this.

“I have been onto the PFA about getting some counselling for him, if he needs it. It is just a case of wait and see, and how he responds.”

With it being Halloween, Stanley are offering free entry to under-12s in fancy dress, if accompanied by an adult. There are even prizes for the best fancy dress. Tickets range from £5 (U12s) to £20 (adults).