PAUL Mullin wants it to be business as usual despite setting a new club record when he leads Stanley's attack in their crucial game against Grimsby tomorrow (Sat).

Reds skipper Peter Cavanagh has offered Mullin the chance to be captain for the historic day as he chalks up his 362nd game for the Reds - with 171 goals - taking over Chris Grimshaw's record, who spent three spells with Stanley.

"I have asked him if he wants to be skipper for the day as he is breaking the record, and he is the vice captain anyway," said regular skipper Cavanagh.

"I will give him the armband - although I don't know if he will accept it, knowing Paul."

And Mullin was quick to refuse it as he just wants the full focus on beating the Mariners.

"I don't want any fuss really. I don't really want all the attention. I just want to get on with the Grimsby game and I will be glad when it is all over - the whole season - as I am shattered!

"It is nice of Cav - and the record is an achievement I am proud of - but it's not something I have been thinking a lot about as the first thing is to make sure we stay up."

Mullin admitted he never thought he would beat his friend Grimshaw's record - who scored 52 goals from midfield and defence in his Reds career which started in 1986 and spanned more than 10 years.

"I remember John Coleman had been chasing me for a while at Radcliffe and the manager Kevin Glendon called me into his office and didn't give me a choice - he said you are going to Accrington," said Mullin, 33, after Coleman had upped a bid from £10,000 to a then club record £15,000 in August 2000.

"The time was right and I was ready to make the move and make the step up.

"I remember I was on the bench for my first game at home to Altrincham - I never thought I would be here seven years and 361 games later in the Football League!

"No doubt when I see Chris he will have a word or two to say to me. I know him from my Clitheroe days and he will have a go!"

Mullin says the match with the best memory is Bournemouth away during Stanley's FA Cup run into the third round in their first season in the Conference.

"For some reason that really sticks in my mind. I scored and it was the first taste of a decent stadium, all my family were there and it was our first season in the Conference. It was special.

"No special goals stick out though. I remember in the UniBond days scoring a 25-yarder against Hyde but no one will believe me at the club. Those from outside the box have definitely dried up now!"

No one is a bigger admirer of Mullin than his boss Coleman who tips him to go even further with the Reds. "I wouldn't be surprised if he went onto play 500 games for Accrington. He has a lot more games in him. He is like Duracel - he keeps going," said the boss.

"I am sure it will be good for him when he runs out onto the pitch tomorrow although knowing Paul he won't be thinking about it too much - he will be concentrating on the game."

And that is the visit of Grimsby with just four games left of the season and Stanley five points above the drop zone.

The Reds have won their last three home games - including last Saturday's 3-2 win over Peterborough - but contentious decisions on their travels have left Coleman furious, especially the penalty incident against the Reds in Easter Monday's 1-0 loss to Hartlepool.

"What we have to do is build up a siege mentality," said the Reds chief. "We have got to expect that none of the decisions will go for us as they haven't all season and we have got to get ourselves into a position where decisions for us or against us don't matter.

"I don't know how many points we will need to stay up but all we can do is, when we can take three points, we have got to cash in or else the minute you don't, you are looking over your shoulder. We have four World Cup finals left and home wins are important."

As well as Stanley's future, players are playing for their own careers. It is thought only four players are still in contract in the summer - Mullin, Rommy Boco, Shaun Whalley and Tony Grant.

There are one year options on some other players and Coleman admitted: "Some of the players are trying to earn the right to stay or put themselves in the shop window and go somewhere else."

Striker Leighton McGivern played a full 90 minutes in the reserves' 3-1 loss to Rochdale on Wednesday night and David Brown also comes back into the frame after suspension.

Andy Mangan is out for the remainder of the campaign following his second sending off of the season against Hartlepool.