MACCLESFIELD Town face the long trip to South Wales with a mounting injury crisis.

What makes matters worse for manager David Moss is that he has been hit badly in one specific area of the team - the defence.

Only last week Moss had five centre-backs to call upon, but with Steve Macauley breaking a bone in his hand and returning to Crewe, and Paul O'Neill going out on loan to Bangor he was quickly down to three.

With Dave Ridler still feeling the lingering effects of flu, 18-year-old Sean Came may get another outing. Regular right-back Steve Hitchen has also been sidelined by a hamstring pull, so George Abbey's trial at Crewe has been postponed.

With forwards Jeff Smith and Dick Tracey injured, Moss is likely to revert to a 4-3-3 formation with Lee Glover, Kyle Lightbourne and the highly-rated Rickie Lambert spearheading the attack.

Swansea are in dire financial straits and have called in journeyman manager Colin Addison, known as a man for a crisis, to steady nerves on the pitch.

Club chairman Tony Petty has put all but a handful of players on the transfer list, with the club also facing Football League charges for the non-payment of gate receipts to the opposition.

Macc gave them a good hiding in the FA Cup second round, running out 4-1 winners, but in big John Williams they know they face an old-fashioned, bruising centre forward.

Last season: Different divisions

Key opponent: Jonathan Coates - Central midfielder capable of carving open defences, and possesses a good eye for goal

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