Chester and Halifax have been frequent sparring partners over the past couple of seasons and there hasn't been much to separate the clubs.

It took a goal from Jamie Menagh in the final few seconds to separate the side in the last meeting and it would be no surprise to see another close one at the Swansway Chester Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

An excellent record at The Shay was the foundation for a top-five finish last term but Halifax were not as impressive on the road.

So a 1-0 success at Dover Athletic was the ideal start to the season, and comfortable home wins over Southport and Welling United point to improvement in the close-season.

Having cashed-in on star man Lee Gregory, Fax have been able to strengthen significantly and manager Neil Aspin looks to have made some shrewd additions.

Fax remain part-time, making last season's achievements all the more impressive, but Aspin has not long signed a full-time deal, suggesting that might change soon.

Although contests between the two clubs have been close, the same cannot be said when reviewing the 2013-14 campaign.

Fax finished well adrift when the Blues won the Conference North the previous season, but the Shayman adapted far better to non-league's top-tier having come up through the play-offs.

Despite that contrast in fortunes and the respective starts to the current campaign, Aspin predicts another tough and competitive battle.

"I'm expecting just as I always expect at Chester, for it to be a difficult game and a competitive game," said Aspin.

"I think it'll be exactly the same, both teams will be competitive and obviously both teams will do their best to get a result.

"Halifax always takes a good number of away supporters to Chester and that creates a great atmosphere, and you see a very competitive game on the pitch as a result of that. 

"Chester will no doubt fancy their chances having had a good win away at Braintree on Saturday, and I don't think they probably consider us to be a team that will challenge at the top end of the table so I don't see them being afraid to attack us.

"There's always a good crowd down there, and good atmosphere like I say so they'll not be fearing us and it's nicely set up to be a good, competitive game."

Blues fans will be familiar with two members of Aspin’s squad: keeper Matt Glennon helped the Blues win the Evo-Stik League Premier Division in 2012 and Kevin Roberts featured more than 80 times between 2006 and 2010.

Fax are big, strong and combative and the Blues will need to meet the physical challenge head on, meaning the likes of Chris Iwelumo and Matty Brown will have big roles.

Manager Steve Burr said the mood in the squad had been far more upbeat after the 3-1 win at Braintree Town and believes his side will want to prove a point in the first home game since the nightmare loss to Barnet on the opening afternoon.

Iwelumo should get the nod over Craig Hobson alongside two-goal Sean McConville, although doubts over midfielders Kingsley James and John Rooney could mean a reshuffle.

Burr said: "I thought big Chris Iwelumo was a handful at Braintree and we need to get players in and around him because he was a threat and it was nice to see him get his goal.

"It's been fantastic the preparation we've had and that's why it was so disappointing when the euphoria of the first game and everything we worked on and prepared all just came crashing down.

"It was hard to take but you dust yourself down and get on with it."