MANAGER Brian Newlands reckons there are three good reasons why his Devizes Town team can cause an upset on Saturday and reach the first round proper of the FA Cup for the first time in their 111-year history.

"We have a fantastic goalkeeper in Paul Thompson, a very strong defence which gives little away and a natural goalscorer in Barry Flippance," he said as he prepared for Saturday's fourth qualifying tie against Nationwide Conference strugglers Kingstonian.

"Of course we will start as the outsiders, but we do have those three things going for us and with them you are always in with at least a chance.

"And the one thing I know about the Devizes players is that they will all give 100 per cent on Saturday. We know we are in for a very tough game, and could be on the end of a 6-0 hammering, but as long as everybody gives 100 per cent I don't really mind what the result is."

Newlands sent his assistants Martin Allen and Ken Miles to watch Kingstonian play at Yeovil on Saturday and has also been in contact with former Melksham Town manager Darren Perrin, now at Conference club Forest Green Rovers, for information on Saturday's opponents.

That information could lead Newlands to make changes to the team who have won their last three league games.

He will take 17 players, with Chris Jones, David Hopkins and Nathan Sheridan added to the 14 man squad for last weekend's 2-1 league victory at Backwell United.

"We have won three games in eight days with the same starting 11, but I have warned the players there may be changes for Saturday. Obviously some players are going to be disappointed," Newlands added.

"We have not played brilliantly in those last three games, but we have battled it out and we will need to do that again on Saturday."

But Newlands will be looking for more than a battling rearguard performance on Saturday.

"I'm still trying to work out how we beat Backwell on Saturday. Backwell were so much the better side and it was one of the most one-sided games I've ever seen. For the first time in my life I was embarrassed to shake hands with the opposition manager at the end of the game.

"Mind you I'd settle for a similar smash and grab result against Kingstonian."

Few non-league managers know as much as about knockout football as Geoff Chapple.

So when the Kingstonian manager describes Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round game against Devizes Town as a 'potential banana skin' for his Nationwide Conferecne strugglers, he's not playing mind games.

Despite struggling one of the bottom of the Conference table, Kingstonian will start Saturday's tie as firm favourites, but Chapple has been involved in too many FA Cup upsets to take anything for granted.

"We've had Devizes watched and they're no mugs. They will be champing at the bit to play us and this is a potential banana skin for us." said Chapple.

"Cup football is a one-off game and all about who wants it most on the day. I know Devizes will be working their socks off to beat us.

"They are playing us at just the right time too, because although we are not playing too badly, the players are short on confidence."

Injuries and suspensions rule out England semi-professional goalkeeper Steve Ferelly and first choice defenders Colin Luckett and Simon Stewart, but Geoff Pitcher, widely regarded as the best midfield player in non-league football returns to the squad after completing a three match ban.

Said Chapple: "That could be bad news for Devizes. Piitcher is a class player, who didn't look out of place when we played Chelsea in a pre-season friendly.

For Chapple, who has been in non-league football management for 22 years, Kingstonian's poor run is the worst he has been associated with.

Kingstonian are the holders of the FA Trophy, beating Kettering 3-2 at Wembley in May to retain the top non-league knockout trophy for the second year running.

That victory also extended a remarkable run for Chapple, who has reached the Trophy final for five of the last seven seasons, first with his old club Woking and then with Kingstonian.

While with Woking, Chapple enjoyed considerable success too in the FA Cup.

"The best has to be in 1990 when we beat West Brom 4-2 away. We were 1-0 down at half-time, but were leading 4-1 with only a minute left.

"We got drawn at home to Everton in the next round, switched the tie to Goodison and lost only 1-0 in front of a crowd of 35,000.

"I'm used to winning more games than losing and this is the worst run I've ever had," he said.

"But to me football is all about making friends and Devizes can be assured of a warm welcome at Kingstonian on Saturday, although not between 3pm and 5pm."

The last time Devizes reached the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup the weekly wage bill was £28 - and that was for was for a squad of 18 players.

Ron Low was one of those highly paid stars of Ken Owens' 1972 side who travelled to Hampshire to play Alton Town.

Low recalled: "I don't know whether we were the favourites or not, but we were certainly confident after beating Cheltenham Town, then in the SouthernLeague, in the third quyalifying round.

"I remember it was raining and there were a lot of leaves all over the pitch.

"We were 1-0 down, but playing down the slope in the second half and had a lot of pressure without being able to score. Alton then broke away and scored a second goal only a minute from the end. We had a good side then and were confident of our own ability."

Low watched the present Devizes side beat Melksham in an earlier round and believes they are capable of causing an upset.

"It's going to be a tough task, but Devizes looked a useful side, with plenty of movement up front."