Accrington v Port Vale preview

Published Aug. 21, 2012 7:15 a.m. ET

foxsports

Dean Winnard and Padraig Amond are pushing for starts as Accrington manager Paul Cook considers shuffling his pack.

Stanley snared a surprise opening day win in npower League Two, overcoming last season's play-off semi-finalists Southend 1-0 at Roots Hall thanks to a goal from on-loan Reading striker Karl Sheppard on his league debut.

Winnard made the bench having recovered from a hamstring injury at the weekend, while Amond may start in attack alongside Sheppard.

If Cook opts to freshen things up in midfield, Charlie Barnett may come into the reckoning.

There is also the possibility new faces could arrive in time to feature against the Valiants.

"There are still one or two more signings coming in, which is great for the club," Cook told Accrington's official website. "It will be an exciting signing or two and will take our age a little bit up as well. We're in the loan market as well."

Meanwhile, Port Vale will have an unchanged squad for their first away game of the season.

After being knocked out of the Capital One Cup by Burnley, manager Micky Adams made two changes for his side's npower League Two opener against Barnet on Saturday.

Richard Duffy and Clayton McDonald replaced Adam Yates and Joe Davis in defence and after Vale kept a clean sheet and beat the Bees 3-0, there is a strong possibility that Adams could stick with the same backline at the Crown Ground.

Should Adams wish to make changes elsewhere, he has the likes of midfielders Darren Murphy, Ryan Burge and Ryan Lloyd and striker Ben Williamson to call upon.

Adams is looking to carry the momentum of a thumping first-day win over Barnet into a tough week for Vale.

"It would be nice to keep things going, but we'll have to be resolute in both games," said Adams, whose side travel to Morecambe at the weekend after Tuesday night's trip to Accrington. "They are two sides who, on their day, are capable of beating anybody, particularly on their own patch. We won't take them lightly and we'll approach the games in a professional manner. If we can keep that belief and attitude, despite all the ongoing traumas at the club, then we'll be okay."