CHIPPENHAM Town manager Tommy Saunders faces selection problems for tomorrow's FA Cup second qualifying round game against Weymouth at Hardenhuish Park.

Skipper Gareth Davies definitely misses the tie and is facing a month on the sidelines after suffering a torn groin muscle in the last Saturday's 2-1 win at Folkestone Invicta.

Another headache for Saunders is who plays in goal, with first choice Paul Thompson carrying an injury and recent replacement James Bittner reluctant to play.

Bittner is pursuing a return to the professional game and is keen to avoid becoming cup-tied.

Said Saunders: "It will be a very difficult game and we'll really miss Gareth Davies at the back.

"I hope Bittner plays and think he should, but if he doesn't then Thommo will play. People like Ian Jones used to play when they were 70 per cent fit all the time."

Thompson, a £2,500 buy from Devizes in the summer, has not played since sustaining a groin injury in the 1-1 draw at Grantham on September and believes it will be another seven days before he is ready for first team action.

He said: "I want to be fit, of course, but I don't feel as though the injury is better yet. It just feels like one wrong kick or one wrong stretch and it might go again.

"I've still got another couple of days to go before the game, but I just feel another week's rest might save six weeks out if it all went wrong.''

Bittner has stood in for Thompson for the last three matches, but is keen to avoid becoming cup-tied by playing in the Weymouth clash.

Thompson will patch himself up and return to the starting line-up should Bittner elect not to play.

Said Thompson: "If he doesn't play then I will. I'll strap it up and do what I've got to do. If Tommy could get another goalkeeper in then all well and good, but I won't see an outfield player go in there for the game.''

Saunders must also decide whether to recall last season's top scorer Matt Rawlins, who has lost his place in the starting line-up to long serving Simon Charity.

Said Saunders: "From my point of view the FA Cup is a dream, it is all about romance. But, while my aim is to get to the first round of the competition, my overall aim is to make sure the club is still in the Premier Division this time next year.

"Don't get me wrong, I'd absolutely love to do well on Saturday, but I'd rather win the league game we have at Weymouth on a Tuesday night in a couple of weeks' time."