FOREST Green boss Ady Pennock isn’t expecting any early Christmas gifts from tonight’s tricky test at play-off rivals Grimsby Town.

Rovers head to town ninth place in the Conference table, three points behind the fifth-placed Mariners.

And Pennock is adamant his side will start the match as underdogs.

He said: “It’s a game no one will expect us to win or get anything from it. So we’ll be looking forward to it.

“It will be like the Bristol Rovers game. Obviously there will be a good gate and they’re hostile supporters and they’re good supporters.

“They’ve got good management, good players and everything else.”

Meanwhile, Grimsby midfielder Craig Disley is fully aware of the threat Pennock's men can pose.

He told the Grimsby Telegraph:"In the last two or three years, they have spent big money and brought players in on big contracts.

"And that is probably the same again this season.

"I think the expectation is there at Forest Green, that with the squad they have they should be challenging.

"And on paper they have got a very good side.”

"We know that if we are going to achieve things this year, then we need to win these games.

"It should be a cracker of a game, and hopefully we can come out on top."