Cooper leads his city side into Eagle Bitter United Counties League Division One battle tomorrow away at an Eynesbury Rovers outfit bossed by colourful local character Lenihan.

The two men are among the most well known figures in football management around here.

Cooper guided the legendary Ortonians club to two Peterborough League Premier Division titles and a couple of PFA Senior Cup successes before their demise, while Lenihan was part of the Peterborough Sports management team for their Premier Division and Northants Junior Cup double last season.

Promotion-chasing Star have suffered only one defeat in their past 13 games ahead of tomorrow's humdinger, but Cooper won't be fooled by Eynesbury's lowly league position.

Cooper said: "I fully expect Al to send out the strongest team he has fielded at Eynesbury because he will be desperate to beat us.

"The only time I ever lost to Al as manager of Ortonians was in a game when I was away at my sister's wedding, but he has been a bit unlucky over the years to be honest.

"We are in our best run of the season and have won our last three games, so it is sod's law we will come unstuck against Eynesbury.

"We certainly won't be looking at their league position and assuming it will be three easy points. They would certainly be higher had their current players have been there all season and we are sure to receive a stern test.

"It will make a nice change in this league to know some of the faces we are playing against.

"This game has been in the fixture list for a fair while so we have known it is coming up and we are looking forward to it."

Eynesbury have climbed one place to fourth-bottom and collected eight points from a possible 18 under Lenihan's leadership.

Six members of the Sports side that captured the top local honours last season have followed the boss to Rovers. Jamie Graham, Dwayne Rankin, Brett Bellamy, Ben Lawrence, Chris Brown and Sam Kingston will all line up against Star with Lenihan keen to buck his losing trend against this managerial rival.

Lenihan said: "I always came out second best against Tommy – even when I had the better team!

"I am loving managing at this level and it is something I should have done years ago, but I am a man of my word and always said I would stay with Peterborough Sports until we won trophies.

"There isn't too big a gulf between UCL Division One and the top Peterborough League sides on the pitch, but the football is much more organised and professional, and managers have the threat of the sack.

"There is no pressure on me this season – it is a case of building a side for the future – but I am quietly confident about tomorrow.

"These two teams might be 30 miles apart but it is a local derby as far as I am concerned and I am sure Tommy feels the same."

The other local side in this section, Huntingdon, host Sileby Rangers.