ANDY BOOTH will ride shotgun tonight as John McAliskey is given extra ammunition to wound Northampton down at Sixfields (7.45).

Town's most experienced targetman returns after suspension to guide the young marksman through a shootout with Martin Smith and Co in which victory would push Town ever closer to automatic promotion.

It's a big task for the Huddersfield-born pairing as Northampton desperately need the points to further their own play-off ambitions, but McAliskey is riding high after his debut double scuppered Scunthorpe.

"I've had a chat with Macca, he's thrilled to bits with what has happened and, quite naturally, he is keen to have another go," said manager Peter Jackson before the McAlpine squad headed down the M1 today.

"Macca led the line on his own on Saturday with no Andy Booth or Pawel Abbott to share the workload, and there was tremendous pressure on the kid going into the game.

"He played tremendously well, though, got through a massive amount of work and got his just rewards in that final five minutes with two fantastic goals.

"Now, he will be looking to carry that momentum forward into tonight's game and, if possible, get his name, on the scoresheet again.

"Every time he has played he has looked like scoring and, if he hasn't made a name for himself already, he certainly can do in these next few games."

Jackson expects skipper Efe Sodje (ankle) to pass a fitness test, so the only likely change is Booth for Gary Harkins.

Club captain Rob Edwards - who admits it's only 50-50 that he will be offered a new contract for next season - is expected to continue on the bench, with Danny Schofield reverting to midfield after his dismissal on Saturday.

Northampton (from) - Harper, Reid, Sampson, Westwood, Low, Hargreaves, Trollope, Smith, Ullathorne, Richards, Sabin, Lyttle, Taylor, Asamoah, Willmott, Youngs.

Town - Rachubka, Holdsworth, Lloyd, Mirfin, Sodje, Yates, Worthington, Schofield, Carss, Booth, McAliskey.