CAERNARFON Town will be aiming to avoid a JD Welsh Cup banana skin when they visit Prestatyn Town in a third-round clash on Friday night.

The Canaries have adjusted to top flight life extremely well under Sean Eardley during what has been a standout season so far, but they will have to be wary of the threat posed by a Town side that have shown signs of life since the return of popular manager Neil Gibson.

Sports reporter Dean Jones picks out five key battles that could have a significant part to play in the overall outcome of the tie.

Dave Hayes vs Jamie Breese

The experienced Hayes faces a stern test of his talents when he comes up against Breese, so is a formidable presence in the final third and has the ability to cause any team problems when he is in the mood.

The fan favourite is adored by the Cofi Army thanks to his tireless work ethic and clinical finishing, but Hayes has long been one of the best centre-halves in the region for more than a decade and he will need to come out on top if the Seasiders are to stand any chance of pulling off an upset.

Alex Jones vs Noah Edwards

Both Jones and Edwards have been hugely influential from the middle of the park for their respective clubs so far this season, and which one

Edwards is no stranger to the Motion Finance Stadium after enjoying a tremendous amount of success at the club under Gibson, and he has transitioned his immense talent to the Cofis’ this term with a series of standout displays.

The energetic Jones will not shy away from the challenge that awaits him and his side on Friday, with the Town skipper emerging as the driving force behind his team’s recent resurgence and his ability to get into the box at the right time will also need to be monitored closely.

Ian Griffiths vs Gareth Edwards

This is another battle that should be fascinating as the tie progresses, with Griffiths providing a huge spark for the Seasiders’ since returning from Prestatyn Sports and he comes into the game on the back of a superb hat-trick in their convincing win over Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochant.

The battle against Edwards will be far and away the most difficult he has faced this season, with the imposing centre back enjoying a superb campaign under Eardley and is also a considerable threat at the other end of the field from set-pieces.

Ben Maher vs Nathan Craig

Maher and Craig will lock horns after being teammates just a few short weeks ago, and both have the quality to punish the opposition if they are not

The Canaries’ skipper is the heartbeat of this club and there are few better than Craig at the left-back position anywhere in the country, but Maher is a gifted playmaker who is looking to prove a point to his former boss that he should have been given more of a chance in his preferred position before his move.

Casey Faulkner vs Ryan Williams

Two of the brightest young prospects in the region are likely to see a lot of each other during the encounter between the storied clubs, with both progressing a significant amount in recent weeks thanks to the extra freedom afforded to them by their managers.

Faulkner has made the problem position of left-back his own for the Seasiders during the season thanks to a series of exceptional display, with Williams further enhancing his reputation for his hometown club with a series of fearless and dazzling displays against some high quality opposition in the