CHESTER CITY take a break from League action this evening, when they make the long journey to the Abbey Stadium to face Cambridge Utd in the first round of the LDV Vans Trophy.

Cambridge were relegated from the Football League to the Nationwide Conference last May, and after a stuttering start at the beginning of the season, they have started to string a number of impressive results together in their new environment.

City will take all their available players to the University City, and manager Keith Curle is aware of the financial rewards that a lengthy run in the competition can bring.

"Success in this tournament can be extremely lucrative for a club.

"I played three times at Wembley early in my career when the competition was known as the Freight Rover Tournament, and there is nothing quite like playing in a cup final for a player, and that must be a tremendous incentive for my Chester City players."

Curle added: "We are treating this trophy with respect.

"There is competition for places at the moment, and whichever team takes the field, it will be a side that I consider is strong enough to win the match.

"Competition is not only for places in the starting eleven at our club these days, it is also for places on the bench and that is extremely healthy."

City will be without three players for the trip. Mid-field player Stewart Drummond starts a three match suspension following his dismissal at Barnet last Saturday, Carl Regan is ruled out because of a hamstring injury, whilst striker Gregg Blundell is still ruled out after sustaining concussion during a match 10 days ago.

Meanwhile City Chairman, Stephen Vaughan, is meeting representatives of Chester City Council later today, among the items to be discussed are the terms of the club's current lease, and a proposal for multi sports usage at the Deva Stadium.

CHESTER CITY (from): Mackenzie, Brookfield, McNiven, Vaughan, Artell, Bolland, Dimech, Hessey, Davies, Walker, Curle, Bertos, Curtis, El Kholti, Dove, Branch, Richardson, Lowe.