The Shrimps manager said it wasn't 'a revenge mission' but the memory of the heavy League defeat and losing controversially 1-0 in the Johnstone's Paint Area final still lingers.

In the latter game, David Artell had a goal ruled out for handball and within a minute, the Mariners had scored what proved to be the winner through Paul Bolland.

McIlroy said: "Grimsby is a team that we owe a result. Last year we had a few games against them and I thought we were the better side all round, especially in the JP final here where they nicked it.

"They took their chances to win 4-0 here in the League and sneaked a 1-0 win in the final. We owe them a performance and hopefully that's what will happen on Saturday.

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"But this is not a revenge mission. We have just got to go out and do our jobs."

This weekend's clash is likely to see McIlroy go up against Grimsby caretaker boss Stuart Watkiss, who has stepped in after Alan Buckley was sacked on Monday.

McIlroy said: "You don't like to see a manager getting sacked and I think they sacked him too easily. Alan Buckley has been a good servant to Grimsby and it is unfortunate he has had to go.

"The pressure on managers theses days is tremendous. Alan Buckley took them to Wembley last year but has had a bad start and the pressure has been on for a new manager.

"When a manager goes, sometimes players respond and sometimes they don't. Managers don't win games, it is about what the players do when they cross the white line.

"They will come here fighting for the lives and we have got to match their effort and we have got the ability to come through."

The Shrimps manager is confident his side will keep improving after a busy summer of new arrivals.

He said: "We are on a little bit of a roll, being three unbeaten, and we want to get another home win under our belt again.

"If we win on Saturday it makes that point at Barnet a great point and that is what we intend to do.

"There are no easy games in this League. Barnet had no points before the game but they gave us a hard match and I was delighted with the effort that our lads put in.

"They scored a good goal but we repsonded and showed again that we have a bit of steel in the side now."

McIlroy will be without Danny Adams who has still to recover properly from a virus. Andy Parrish is likely to continue at left-back with Michael Howard also out with a back injury. Matty Blinkhorn is back in training after his operation on his knee.

Danny Smith played again for the Reserves on Wednesday.

McIlroy said: "Danny Smith is still finding his feet. He is a young boy who has not played a lot of football but has got a lot of potential.

"He showed that again last night for the Reserves at Accrington. He has been well groomed, knows the positions he plays and we just have to build up his fitness."

And Smith might not be the last new signing at Christie Park, with McIlroy likely to bring in another player before the end of the month.

He said: "There could be something happening before the end of September. I have been on the ball with that since the end of the summer."