PAT McManus does not expect his Brockenhurst side to see too much of the ball as they bid to break new ground in the FA Cup at home to Wealdstone on Saturday (3pm).

The visitors are not exactly setting the National League South alight, sitting 17th, but the fact remains that they are three leagues higher than McManus’s men who have themselves made a stuttering start to Wessex League campaign.

Brock, though, have proved a different proposition in the FA Cup, humbling Southern League Yate and Mangotsfield at their Grigg Lane stronghold.

And, without giving too much away, McManus has his game plan well prepared for tomorrow’s third qualifying round tie.

“Some will say Wealdstone are struggling in their league, but it’s all relative,” he said. “They still don’t make the same mistakes that the top teams in our league make.

“We won’t be going gung-ho. We know we’re going to be without the ball for long periods of time and we’ll be setting ourselves up to cope with that.

“We’ve got a massive task ahead and we’ll show them respect, but we won’t go into it with fear. We’re not there to make up the numbers, we’re going to try to get through to the next round and I’m doing all I can to set the team up for that to happen.”

The New Forest outfit will be bidding to reach the fourth qualifying round at the fourth time of asking. Salisbury (1992-3), Cirencester (2001-2) and Bath City (2004-5) have previously blocked their path.

But whatever the outcome, McManus expects a memorable day.

Since the summer arrival of chairman Stan Reid, there has been a real buzz around Grigg Lane. 

“I believe we’ve got a better squad than last year with the makings of a top-eight Wessex side,” said McManus.

“The club itself is already better. It’s not just a football team within a venue any more, it feels like a proper football club.

“We’ve got no injury doubts and everyone’s looking forward to it. There’s a lot of excitement around the village and we’re expecting a bigger crowd than we’re used to.”