TRANMERE Rovers manager Micky Mellon says he and his players are looking forward to stepping out in front of a big Rovers following for this Saturday's local derby away at Chester FC.

The Super White Army have snapped up the full ticket allocation of two sides of the Swansway Chester Stadium, and the boss says he’s not surprised by the support.

In an interview on the club's website this afternoon he said: "I'm delighted, obviously, but not surprised because I know what a great fanbase we have.

"They love their football club and they want to be a part of us trying to win games, and certainly they do that.

"We'll be pleased to go down there with a big following and we’ll be all out to make sure it was worth their while."

Local derbies always have that little added spice, and looking back to last season, the manager recalls two exciting and close matches between the two clubs.

He says he is expecting a similarly tough test on Saturday afternoon against a Chester side battling to remain in the National League.

"All the games since I've been here against Chester have been fantastic excitement.

"We've come out on the right side of one and the wrong side of one last season when we got a last minute winner away and they got a last minute equaliser against us at home.

"Full of everything that a local derby should be about and the one down at Chester last year had everything.

"We know we’re going into a local derby and they're always difficult, but we'll prepare the boys properly and they’ll be ready to go."