Stuart Tuck has been there, seen it and done pretty much everything during his 13 years in Sussex football.

But the former Albion defender will experience something completely different tomorrow when he lines up against a former side for the very first time in his career.

Tuck played 228 games, the majority as captain, during five successful seasons at Eastbourne Borough before making the tough decision to leave and join Bognor earlier in the season.

He has made an immediate impact at Nyewood Lane by helping to tighten up the Rocks defence and adding a physical edge that made him such a hit with Borough fans.

The 32-year-old is desperate to shrug off hip and knee injuries in time to play in the Sussex derby and would love nothing better than to put one over on his former team-mates.

Tuck said: "I've never played against a former team before so it will be interesting. When I left Worthing to join Borough they were in different leagues and we never played them in the cup.

"Five years is a long time to be at the same club and I made a lot of friends at Borough so it is going to be a strange experience. I'm sure I'll have a chat with a few players before the game but I'll try to leave it until after the match because I've got a job to do.

"I've just got to treat it like any other game but I would be a liar if I didn't say there is a bit more on it. There are only three points at stake but I've got to admit winning would be a bit special.

"I've had a couple of injuries but it will take a lot to keep me out of this one. I had to come off at half time at Eastleigh last Saturday and had an injection in my hip in the week but hopefully I'll be fit enough to play."

Tuck reluctantly left Priory Lane in September after struggling to win his place back at the heart of the Borough defence following injury.

Borough boss Garry Wilson tried to convince the defender to stay but Tuck finally decided it was time for a change after playing just two of the opening ten matches.

He has started all nine games in Conference south since, helping the Rocks win five and draw one to raise hopes of an unlikely play-off push.

Tuck added: "From my point of view you have got to aim as high as possible so the play-offs are definitely our aim. It is not Christmas yet so if we can put a run together the top six must be our target.

"On our day we are as good as anyone in Conference south in my opinion. We can really take teams apart when things click but we also have a tendency to trip up against the weaker teams.

"We haven't got the biggest squad but on paper we are strong and when you actually see us play I am not surprised how well we are doing. I am probably more surprised we aren't doing a bit better because the potential is there.

"Borough's aspirations are similar to ours so it will be a big weekend for both teams. The league is very tight and if they win they will open up a big gap on us but if we come out on top we'll go above them and nobody would like that more than me."

Eastbourne Borough face a striker crisis ahead of the Sussex derby with Scott Ramsay unlikely to play after requiring five stitches in a gashed knee following his hat-trick against Hastings on Tuesday night.

Allan Tait is also struggling with a calf strain which ruled him out of the Sussex Senior Cup tie at the Pilot Field while Neil Jenkins is a doubt with a knee injury, although Darren Baker returns from suspension.

Wilson added: "It's a shame because Scott has just started to bang in the goals and if Allan doesn't come through we may have to spring a few surprises.

"Whatever team we put out we know we are in for a tough game. We watched Bognor last Saturday (when they beat Eastleigh 4-0) and they were excellent and Nyewood Lane has not been a happy hunting ground for us in recent years."