STAND UP and be counted is what Basingstoke Town boss Ernie Howe is asking his players to do as they travel to bitter rivals Aldershot on Boxing Day.

The first derby match of the season is perhaps not what Town want at this precise moment having failed to win in their last five games.

But Howe believes his players can use the stage to put behind them a run of miserable performances.

He said: "Aldershot are rubbing their hands together thinking they have an easy three points, but we have to show we are resilient and players have to knuckle down and work hard."

Midfielder Efan Elad, who limped out of Saturday's 3-2 home defeat against Hitchin with a slight hamstring injury, will be fit.

The trio of Sean Gorman, Glenn Howes and Don Forbes all played in Tuesday night's 6-3 friendly win over Henley and are included in the squad.

Gorman continued his recent good form with his second brace in four days after hitting two for the reserves at Taplow.

Ian Dickens also netted two while Tim Sills and Steve Hemmings got one each.

Howe said: "Having all three players is a great plus for us and they all want to play which shows me they have the desire which we have been lacking in recent weeks from some players."

Howe must now decide whether to start Gorman alongside loan signing Warren Haughton, who made his Town debut on Saturday.

Talking about the 27-year-old, who is at The Camrose for a month, Howe said: "He played well on his debut and was disappointed not to have scored."

Transfer-listed pair Mike Davis and Jimmy Fraser are still at the club, but are unlikely to figure at Aldershot. Kick off is at 3pm.

Town (from) Tarr, Honor, Elverson, Wilkinson, Bristow, Lisk, Forbes, Keevil, Elad, Eaton, Newbery, Hayfield, Gorman, Sills, Haughton, Howes.