The Martyrs go for a Scottish theme at their Loadlok Community Stadium home today.
Merthyr Town play Kettering Town in a Southern League match (3pm) before celebrating Burns night in the Red Flag Bar.
Manager Gavin Williams and his team face a tough test against the second-placed Poppies before the players join supporters for their poems, haggis and more to mark Burns night, which is officially next Thursday.
Merthyr’s pitch was inspected at 8.30am this morning and the fixture against Kettering is certain to go ahead.
Jarrad Wright and Craig Reddy are both ruled out of the Merthyr team by suspension, while Kyle Patten is still missing with an ankle injury.
Wright starts a four-match suspension, while Reddy misses the second of his four games.
Lee Price, who has joined Merthyr from Cambrian and Clydach, has been registered in time for the match against Kettering and can play.
Merthyr Town play their first home game since Boxing Day following the postponed match against Dunstable Town.
They go into the game having drawn four and won one of their last six games, while Kettering have won three and drawn one of their last six.
Kettering, who won the reverse fixture 5-0 back in October, are one point behind leaders King’s Lynn Town and chasing the one promotion place available.
They include former Newport County strikers Aaron O’Connor, who is their leading scorer with 20 goals in 31 matches, and Rene Howe, who has 11 in his 35 appearances.
Kettering have struggled on long away trips this season, suffering three of their four defeats at Weymouth, Dorchester Town and Basingstoke Town.
They are making a near 350-miles round trip to South Wales which will take more than three hours each way and manager Marcus Law says: “It’s a long coach trip and it’s well-documented that we haven’t dealt with them well this season.
“Our preparation has been spot on and we have done everything possible to ensure we have everything right.
“It’s a 4G pitch at Merthyr which is something we have to get to grips with because the players’ legs have been used to heavy pitches for a little while now.
“The ball will be zipping around.”
Merthyr Town squad: Oliver Davies, Cameron Clarke, Adam Davies, Miles John, Liam martin, Connor Hanford, Matthew Harris, Scott Tancock, Ashley Evans, Harry Franklin, Adam Mahagan, Jaye Bowen, Lee Price Corey Jenkins, Ian Traylor, Kerry Morgan, Ryan Prosser.
The match kicks off at 3pm. Admission price £10 adults, £8 seniors, and £1 U16s.
