[pein87]

if your going to use css make the link like so. <a href="link/to/file" rel="no-follow" id="new reply">Text</a>

a#reply { display:block; height: 20px; width:120px; background: url(image url); }
a#reply :hover { display:block; height: 20px; width:120px; background: url(image url);background-position:-120; }

this makes it a roll over link and helps your SEO.
make it so your image has to shades on thats one on top of the other one for the hover one for the regular status. Switch size info with your own size info and img source as well. Should work if not PM me and I can do more if you had images.