The winners of tonight's match, which will be decided by extra time and penalties if necessary, will be away to Aldershot in the final next Thursday after the Shots won the toss to stage the game.

The Town chief had little room for manoeuvre with injuries and ineligibility shaping his selection.

Jon Shaw, who missed Monday's league defeat at Droylsden, is still sidelined by an ankle problem while the dead leg suffered by Andy Campbell at the Butchers Arms ground will keep him out for a further week.

Nathan Joynes, who travelled to Manchester to watch his teammates, is almost ready to return, but Wilder is keen not to force him back too early.

"We could bring Nathan back and have him break down," said Wilder. "The alternative is to give him an extra week's training and have him available for the final games.

"That is the dilemma I have. I am leaning towards having him back for the last eight games."

It is not the only quandary for Wilder who has to consider Saturday's crucial league trip to Exeter City when he finalises his starting line-up at Nene Park.

"We will take each game on its merits and see where that takes us," he said.

"But there will be three or four players who will have to play a big part in tonight's game and then 90 minutes on Saturday."

Adam Quinn will also be missing this evening after suffering a tight hamstring early in Monday's game at Droylsden.

He will seek advice from a chiropractor with the feeling that the recurring injury is to do with a back problem.

Rob Scott, a potential replacement in defence, has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking down in training.

"Rob tried to get back as quickly as he could," said Wilder.

"He has had a recurrence and we are not expecting him to be involved again."

Simon Ainge and Peter Atherton are expected to line up in central defence with loan signing Santos Gaia cup-tied as he played for Grays in two earlier rounds of the Shield.


Rushden (from): Roberts, Osano, Gulliver, Corcoran, El Kholti, Gooding, Shaw, Challinor, Woodhouse, Kelly, Platt, Rankine, Ademeno, Tomlin, Hope, Burgess.

Halifax Town (from): Legzdins, Mawson, Doughty, Wright, Harban, Davies, Atherton, Ainge, Heslop, Griffith, Gray, Kearney, Killeen, Whitehouse, Forrest, Taylor.

Halifax Town's Blue Square Premier game against Ebbsfleet United at the Shay on April 10 will be broadcast live on Setanta Sports.