TRANMERE Rovers will be aiming for a return to the top of League One when they face Notts County at Prenton Park tonight.

Kicking off at 7.45pm, it will be the 40th time the two clubs have gone head-to-head, with Rovers holding a 17 wins to 16 advantage.

Ronnie Moore's squad are in third place in League One with 59 points following their spectacular 5-1 thrashing of Colchester United on Saturday.

A win tonight would catapult them back to pole position taking the top spot away from Sheffield Utd, who are on 60 points.

Rovers' assistant manager John McMahon hopes the squad will put in a repeat performance of their 1-0 win over Notts County from earlier in the season.

He said: "They’re a big club with a big squad. I went to watch them against Walsall and they try to play football.

"They've got goal threats in them and they try to play from the back so they will be a force.

"Any team that comes with momentum between now and the end of the season will have a really big say.

"We need to win at home both for ourselves, for the confidence, and also for the fans to start believing again."

Earlier this season a goal from Joe Thompson gave Rovers a 1-0 win over Notts County at Meadow Lane.

Last season's game at Prenton Park ended 1-1 after John Welsh headed in a late equaliser in Moore's first game back at the Club.

The most high profile game between the two clubs was the 1989-90 Play Off final at Wembley when County prevailed 2-0.

The highest scoring match between the two sides was a 4-3 home win for Tranmere in the FA Cup in January 1936 while Rovers' biggest home is a 4-0 victory, a result achieved in both 1964-65 and 2003-04.

Players who have represented both clubs include Dixie Dean, Andy Parkinson, Frank Lane, Delroy Facey, John Thompson, Enoch Showunmi, Joss Labadie and Eric McManus.

Max Power gave Rovers the lead 11 minutes into the game against Colchester at Weston Homes Community Stadium on Saturday.

It was the club's first league win in five games and assistant manager John McMahon said the squad 'turned things around' with a powerful performance.

He said yesterday: "The three points are very important. The scoreline flattered us a little bit and was a massive confidence boost. We more than took our chances on the day as well.

"There was a happy team in the changing room and on the bus back home afterwards.

"Ian Goodison is back in the side and did very well. He has a calmness about him and is not the type of person who gets flustered."

The top of the division could scarcely be tighter with just two points separating the top five clubs.

McMahon continued: "This is the time of year when people start looking at the table.

"Fortunately, we are at the right end of it. We need to win at home to boost our confidence even more."

Rovers striker Adam McGurk will miss the next four to six weeks after suffering a collapsed lung.

He is receiving treatment and training will then be gradually increased, initially beginning with non-contact before he eventually rejoins full training.

Loan signing Mamady Sidibe is expected to be out of action for a fortnight after picking up a hamstring injury during his debut at Colchester.

Ronnie Moore is watching Ben Gibson in action for Middlesbrough Under-21s today and hopes the defender will rejoin Rovers on loan later this week.

Rovers League One campaign continues on Saturday, when they take on Yeovil Town at the Huish Park Stadium, 3pm.