AFTER the frustration of a very late postponement of the Maidenhead match on Saturday, Aldershot get back to business with a trip to Grays Athletic on Saturday.

Manager Terry Brown will not be under-estimating the challenge of Grays, currently in the bottom half of the table, especially as the Essex side have Carl Leaburn in their ranks.

In fact, Brown was stepping up his efforts this week to sign a tall defender to counter the threat of the 6ft 3ins Leaburn, a former striker with both Charlton and Wimbledon.

"It's sure to be a physical game and we need a big centre-half," said Brown who has had talks with a number of players.

One of his first-choice defenders, Anthony Charles, misses the Grays game because of suspension.

Paul Moody, another ex-Football League professional, is likely to return to the Aldershot attack after recovering from a muscle strain. "I think we'll need him," commented Brown who also has to choose between his two excellent goalkeepers, Nikki Bull and Gareth Howells.

On Tuesday, Aldershot are home to Eastleigh in the quarter-finals of the Hampshire Senior Cup, with the chance of an appearance by Matt Le Tissier for the Jewson Wessex League leaders.

Aldershot used 22 players in a useful work-out at Windsor & Eton on Tuesday night. The friendly fixture ended 2-2 and was notable for a goal by Jason Chewins struck from outside the box with his right foot. Michael Harper scored the other goal.

Hundreds of Aldershot fans made a wasted journey to the Rec on Saturday after early reports that the league match against Maidenhead was likely to go ahead.

An early inspection by a local referee proved over- optimistic and the match official, who had travelled from Plymouth, called the game off at 1-40 pm after examining an area of the pitch that was still frozen after a severe overnight frost.

With Farnborough playing Arsenal in the FA Cup on January 25, Aldershot have brought forward their home match with Ford United to Friday, January 24 (ko 7-45 pm).

Aldershot arranged some Friday night matches with some success in the early '90s when they were still a Football League club.