A BIG crowd is expected at The Soccer AM Stadium on Saturday as Basingstoke Town take on AFC Telford United in the first round proper of the FA Cup.

Victory over the Vanarama Conference side would put Town through to the second round of the world’s oldest cup competition for just the fourth time in their history.

It promises to be a hard-fought game, with Vanarama Conference South leaders Basingstoke taking on the side who are bottom of the league above them.

Both clubs will fancy their chances of progressing in the competition – and Town manager Jason Bristow simply cannot wait for Saturday to come around.

“We are excited and are looking forward to the game,” he said.

“We have reached the FA Cup First Round, which is a huge achievement, and it’s a big game – but it could set up an even bigger day for the club if we are able to get through.”

However, Town are facing an injury crisis going into the tie, with seven players either out or battling to be fit for the big game.

Strikers Liam Enver-Marum (knee) and Lloyd Macklin (hamstring) are both major doubts, while midfielder Simon Dunn could also miss out with a dead leg.

Manny Williams will sit the game out through suspension, while striker Sam Argent is also definitely out after suffering a slight tear to one of his knee ligaments in training.

Full-backs Tom Bird and Nathan Smart both went down ill earlier in the week, and while they are more likely to recover in time to play, Town’s preparation has been far from ideal.

They could find themselves especially short in attack if Enver-Marum and Macklin are both ruled out – but Bristow insists that he will not risk either player if they are not totally ready.

“It’s a big game but we have to think about the long term as well,” the Town boss said. “We do not want to risk aggravating an injury and having a player miss several months.

“Liam Enver-Marum is working hard in the gym but it is going to be very, very close, while Lloyd has reacted well to treatment, but the game might come too soon for both of them.

“We have got options, with a lot of versatile players, and we may have to approach the game in a different way.”

Town suffered a rare defeat last weekend but they remain top of the Vanarama Conference South, with some bookmakers seeing them as favourites against a Telford side who are bottom of the league above.

Bristow said: “In the pyramid, there may only be one position between us, but they have to be favourites as they play in a higher league.

“They may be struggling, but they are coming up against better opposition week in, week out.

“The experience of coming up against better sides will help them and they are a good side.

“They are a physically big side with a good long throw who will try to get the ball into our box and put us under pressure at every opportunity.

“We have to deal with that first and foremost and then try to play our game rather than getting sucked into playing long balls ourselves.

“If we get the opportunity to pass the ball on the floor, then we can cause them problems.”

Saturday’s game will get under way at 3pm, with admission costing £12 for adults, £8 for concessions and £2 for under-16s. If you cannot be there, follow live text commentary from The Soccer AM Stadium on this site.