TRANMERE Rovers face Nottingham Forest in the Capital One Cup first round at Prenton Park tonight.

Kicking off at 7.45pm, it will be the fifth time the two clubs have met in the competition.

In 2003-04 it needed a penalty shoot decided the second round tie at Prenton Park after two hours of football finished goalless.

Forest went on to win 4-1 in the shoot out with a team that included two players who would later go on to play for Tranmere - Gareth Taylor and John Thompson.

Ten seasons earlier, a 1-1 draw in the fifth round at the City Ground led to a replay at Prenton Park.

Despite losing home and away against Forest in the league that season, Johnny King's side came out on top as headed goals from Pat Nevin and Tony Thomas gave the Club a 2-0 win and a first ever semi-final place against Aston Villa. 

The only other meeting came in 1981-82, with Forest winning 2-0 at the City Ground.

Rovers manager Rob Edwards could be without centre back Marcus Holness for tonight's game, due to a hamstring problem, but has no other fresh problems to report.

He told the club's website Tranmere Player: "There's a few bumps and bruises but no other serious knocks.

"Matt Gill had a bang on his knee in the game against Crewe and missed a couple of days but he comes into contention for Tuesday.

"I think under the stresses and strains of a competitive game you see people's strengths and weaknesses. I might make a couple of changes.

"There's no point in having players in the squad and not giving them a chance. I'm aware of looking at what players can do and at least they can't say to me that they haven't had an opportunity."