TRANMERE Rovers face top-of-the table Shrewsbury Town in League Two action at Prenton Park this weekend. 

Saturday's match, kick off 3pm, will be the 40th time the two clubs have met with Tranmere holding a 20 wins to nine advantage.

Micky Adams' squad goes into the game in 22nd place in the league with 31 points from 30 games. They were beaten 2-0 by York City Last weekend. A win tomorrow could lift them as high as 19th place.

Shrewsbury are six points clear of fourth-placed Luton Town. The Shrews have won five, drawn four and lost six on the road this season.

Assessing this weekend's opponents during a press conference at Prenton Park, Adams said: "I think it's as good a game as we could have got.

"The thing we've not handled very well recently is the favourite tags to win games.

"That's not sat too kindly with us.

"Saturday, we’re up against it, we understand that.

"I think it's a good game, that'll suit us. I can't see Shrewsbury coming here and sitting behind the ball trying to nick a point.

"They’ll be going for it. They're league leaders, who have won lots of games this season and know how to win lots of games.

"We're back to that ‘underdog’ tag again and maybe a lot of people written us off. But we certainly haven't.

"We understand the frustration of our supporters and, certainly, after the York game and maybe you could factor into that Carlisle as well."

Following last weekend's defeat, Adams said it was the worst performance to date from his players.

However he remained confident Rovers would "get through it - and get over it" and have what it takes to get points.

Rovers' striker Cole Stockton will miss Saturday's home game against Shrewsbury Town as he requires surgery on a hernia.

Michael Ihiekwe will be available for the match after missing the last four fixtures with an ankle injury.

Asked when Stockton was likely to return, Adams said: "Cole is out, he needs a hernia operation and he's going to have that in the next fortnight.

"It depends what the surgeon finds when he's in there but we're looking at three to six weeks out."

Matt Hill is at St George's Park this week. He's been out on the training ground doing light ball work and light running and is still some weeks off.

Also out of action is Marcus Holness, awaiting an operation for an injury received during their game against Morecambe.

Adams said: "He's in a brace so his medial ligament will heal, as soon as that's healed he'll have an operation on his cruciate."