PETERSFIELD Town manager Ian Saunders can’t wait for his side to take on a non-league giant in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Southern Premier Division side Weymouth are the visitors to Love Lane in the first qualifying round stage of the competition (kick-off 3pm).

The Dorset side have a long and proud history in the upper levels of the non-league pyramid system and have gone close to achieving Football League status in the not so distant past.

And they head to East Hampshire with a strong FA Cup pedigree – they reached the fourth round proper in 1962 and the Terras have not been knocked out at this stage of the competition for the last 18 years.

The Rams face a tough afternoon ahead if they are going to pull off a cup upset but Saunders is just happy to see his side having the chance to take on such illustrious opposition.

“To be competing on the same pitch as a club like Weymouth is an achievement in itself for us,” he explained.

“They are a big club in terms of non league football and their squad is packed full of players who have Football League experience.

“It will be a tough ask to get a winning result but I can’t wait to see my lads get the chance to put themselves up against a side of Weymouth’s stature.

“If you think as well where Petersfield has come from in recent seasons, we can already be happy about the day – there will hopefully be a big crowd in, Weymouth are a fantastic club and we have the chance to go through to the second qualifying round.

“That’s the incentive for my players and I am sure they will all be up for the occasion and we will do what we can to get the result everybody at the club wants.”

The Rams are still without keeper Matt Shortt, who faces up to another two months on the sidelines with his ankle injury, while striker Howard Neighbour is suspended.