THREADBARE Forest Green are in a confident mood, according to boss Mark Cooper as he prepares his side to go toe-to-toe with former National League sparring partners Grimsby Town.

Cooper’s in-form side have lost just one of their last seven games in League Two as they head to face Russell Slade’s side who sit 12th in the table, nine points above FGR.

It was the Mariners who denied Forest Green a place in the Football League when they won promotion at Wembley last year, but Rovers earned their own place second time around when they beat Tranmere at the national stadium earlier this year.

Only Keanu Marsh-Brown and Dale Bennett remain from the side that lost 3-1 to Grimsby at Wembley last year, but the long-serving duo will miss the match in Cleethorpes due to injury and suspension respectivley.

"We haven't got 18 fit players but we've got enough. We don't moan about that,” Cooper told the FGR website.

Rovers' boss is also missing key midfield duo Drissa Traore and Isaiah Osbourne and the suspended Manny Monthe, but Charlie Cooper will be vying for a start after gaining valuable minutes during the 1-0 Checkatrade Trophy win at Swindon Town.

Cooper added: "We are feeling the pinch in terms of injuries and suspensions but we had that the other night and we went to Swindon, a difficult place, and were able to get a win.

"We're on a good run and we believe we can keep that going, even with a depleted squad."

Cooper is anticipating a buoyant crowd at Blundell Park and knows his side must be patient and win the midfield battle if they are to come out on top.

“They are in good form aren't they? They will play 4-4-2, will try to get the ball wide and get loads of crosses in the box,” he added.

"They throw a lot of people forward to try and really swarm you and try and get goals so we have to be ready to repel that threat and then look to find the little gaps and pay off the back of that.

"It's a great old-fashioned stadium, really good supporters and there will be a big crowd there tomorrow with their unity day so it should be a cracking atmosphere."