AFC Telford defender Will Salmon bidding to beat best pal Scott Rendell

Salmon, who has started the club's first three games of the new season, is likely to be lining up against his best friend, Hatters striker Scott Rendell.

The game at Kenilworth Road will also be his 100th appearance for the Bucks should he be involved.

The players have known each other since their early teens and they came through the ranks together at Aldershot before going their separate ways.

Salmon, who still lives in Basingstoke, will also be performing in front of several friends as well as his parents Noel and Mary, who will be making the comparatively short journey from Hampshire to Bedfordshire.

Salmon admitted that will all add significance to the occasion this weekend but he will not be thinking about any of it until the final whistle.

"I wasn't aware I had played 99 games until after the Braintree Town game but I think 100 games would be a good achievement and I'd be pretty proud of it," he said.

"I would like to play many more games for the club as well but the appearances won't come into my mind until after the game.

"It will be quite a good occasion but the 90 minutes are far more important and hopefully we can get a result."

He added that there had been plenty of banter between him and Rendell, who joined Paul Buckle's side during the summer, in the build-up to this week.

But while he wishes his friend well at his new club, he will be looking to do him no favours tomorrow.

"I have known Scott since we were at 13 or 14," said Salmon. "We were kids at Aldershot and when we are not playing football we still hang out together.

"There's been loads of banter about the game and it will be a good fixture as long as we can get something from it."

Salmon accepts the Bucks will be cast in their familiar underdog role again on Saturday against a side that remain unbeaten after three games, with two wins and a draw to their name.

They also have one of the league's top scorers so far in Stuart Fleetwood.

The former Charlton Athletic and Hereford United man has already netted four times during the campaign, including a brace against Kidderminster Harriers. But Salmon said that games against the bigger sides in the division would provide extra motivation for the team.

"Playing against Luton, Stockport, Macclesfield – they are league clubs really with big grounds and these games are a great opportunity to play well and to do well against them," he said.

Luton midfielder Adam Watkins is expected to be fit as the Hatters chase a win that could send them top of the table.

Jake Howells is also in contention after being named on the bench at Hyde last time out due to his exertions with Wales Under-21s.

Buckle said: "We did speak to the players regarding Howells being on the bench. With us winning (at Kidderminster) and him playing 70 minutes with 10 men for Wales Under-21s, it wasn't ideal for him to play.

"He played ever so well in the game before against Gateshead though, so the players know there is competition for places in the squad now.

"If you do come off it, you're not quite at it and you're not up and running where you need to be in these games, your place will be under threat.

"We want to stay at the top of the league.

"That's where we want to be and we've got a chance to do that Saturday."