GORNAL Athletic boss Ian Rowe is set to turn investigator as his side look to continue their FA Vase dream.

The Garden Walk Stadium will be buzzing, weather permitting, this Saturday when the Peacocks host North West League Division One outfit Runcorn Town in the third round (kick-off 3pm).

It’s the furthest the club have ever progressed in the competition and they will enter the game with high hopes against a team from the same level of the non-league pyramid.

However, Rowe revealed Runcorn remain something of an unknown quantity - something he plans to rectify before the weekend.

He said: “Obviously we know they are the same sort of level as us but other than that it’s been difficult to get information on them.

“They are going well in their league but we don’t know the strength of their league compared to ours, if they turn out to be another Tividale we could be in trouble.

“I’m going to have to make a few phone calls in the next few days to teams who have played them to find out all I can.

“One thing is for sure, any team who has reached this stage of the Vase is going to be a good team and we will have to be on our mettle.”

Gornal will take confidence from their superb 2-1 victory at Midland Alliance outfit Boldmere St Michaels in the previous round.

However, their preparations have not been helped by the cold snap. Saturday’s postponement against Wednesfield means skipper Chris Waterhouse’s suspension has carried over to the Vase clash, while the squad has been unable to train for a week due to the frozen conditions.

Rowe is also without cup tied trio James Hancox, Keiron Parsons and Cameron Morgan.

He said: “I have not seen the players in over a week because of the weather, I’m hoping to get them in the gym on Thursday so we can at least meet before the game.

“Apart from the Tividale defeat we have been going well of late and hopefuly we can play to our best standard.

“Ultimately it’s a cup tie and anything can happen but if we win it will be a fantastic achievement.”

Elsewhere this Saturday, Tividale will look to increase their lead at the top of the table when they travel to face second placed AFC Wulfrunians.

Dudley Sports will look to end a run of eight straight defeats at Bewdley Town, while Dudley Town head to Bromyard Town.

The poor weather put paid to all fixtures in the West Midlands Premier last weekend.