John Sheridan reckons Chesterfield are in better shape for a return trip after their Johnstone's Paint Trophy win at Oldham.
Sheridan's side were thrashed 5-2 by the Latics in the league in November but he believes they are better equipped to handle what he admits will be a tough test when the teams meet again a week on Monday.
"I think we are two very evenly matched sides," Sheridan said following his side's 2-1 northern area final first leg victory.
"I know Oldham beat us 5-2 at their place, and fully deserved to, but I think that was down to the way we played and we have learned a little bit since then.
"We will go there and stand up. I know it will be very tough, they have some very good players, especially going forward and they will give us problems but we have to believe we can go through.
"The most important thing is we are going there with an advantage. I think (Oldham manager) Paul (Dickov) would have said the same, it was important to be in the tie going into the second leg and a goal lead is what we would have taken before the game."
Danny Whitaker's penalty gave Chesterfield something to take into the second leg after a Robbie Simpson rocket had cancelled out Scott Boden's close-range finish early in the second half.
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