THERE may still be 142 days until Man United, Chelsea, Liverpool et al have to worry about their first FA Cup tie but the competition gets underway this weekend.
Haverhill Rovers will once again be one of the sides entering the Extra Preliminary Round, a mere 13 wins from Wembley.
And the occasion won't be lost on Rovers' new boss Larry Billings as he prepares to take part in the competition for the first
time.
"I'm very excited. I might well get the old collar and tie out to reflect that this is the highest level competition we are going to play in, and against March we will stand a very good chance of going through."
If Rovers are to progress to the Preliminary Round against Leiston or Blackstones then they will have to do it without goalkeeper Ed Campbell, striker Paul Jenkin (both on holiday) and defender Gareth Thomas (suspended).
Paul Stokes should make his fifth debut for the club as a result while reserve goalkeeper Jamie Smith will also have a chance to impress.
The defence situation is a little more complicated with Sam Holmes, Brad Deeks, Jim Hollingsworth and Lee Hurkett all vying for a spot in the team.
But Billings believes the introduction of Stokes could aid his team going forward with the ex-Wickhambrook forward's back-to-goal style of attacking providing an alternative option up front.
"That will give us a different way of approaching things," said Billings. "Stokesy played in the first couple of friendlies and we have missed him since he's been away. But he's back now and hopefully he will add a different dimension to the front line.
"Craig Cutts is getting more used to the pace in the Ridgeons League compared with his time with Hundon and I think he will come good."
Rovers' match with march Town United kicks off at Hamlet Croft at 3pm.
The Reds return to league action on Wednesday with a trip to Histon Reserves, providing there is no FA Cup replay.
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