STRUGGLING Waltham Abbey will be eager to cause a cup upset when they host high-flying Boreham Wood in the FA Trophy.

The Abbotts are sitting fourth from bottom in the Ryman Premier League table following their 1-0 defeat to Hastings United at the weekend.

But the Essex outfit have the chance to put their league form on the back-burner when they face Boreham Wood in the first qualifying round on Saturday.

The Hertfordshire side sit in sixth position in the Ryman Premier after overcoming Bognor Regis Town 1-0, who were relegated from the Blue Square South last season.

Abbey manager Glen Alzapiedi is confident his team can compete against Wood despite having a smaller squad and a tighter budget.

He said: “If I am able to play my strongest team I believe we can compete against any side in this league.

“The game isn’t an upset in the sense that we’re in the same league as Boreham Wood, but in the sense that they are challenging for the play-offs and are a bigger club it will be an upset.”

Alzapiedi admits he is caught between the devil and the deep blue sea when it comes to the FA Trophy.

“It would be a magnificent achievement for Waltham Abbey if we managed to stay up fifth from bottom on goal difference so we need to win as many league games as we can.

“But at the same time a cup run in the FA Trophy would mean that we would get prize money, which means we can modernise our ground or I can strengthen the squad,” he said.

Elsewhere, Waltham Forest are also in FA Trophy action when they host Maidstone United on Saturday, who are lying in tenth position in the Ryman Premier League table.

The Stones are in fine form as they are unbeaten in five league matches, but the plucky Stags, who signed former Barcelona defender Samuel Okunowo last week, are contesting for the play-off places in Ryman Division One North.

Forest beat Romford in a 4-3 thriller and will be raring to go after their derby against Leyton on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the Lilywhites are in Ryman League Division One North league action when they host Tilbury on Saturday.

The Lea Bridge Road club played out a 2-2 draw with Maldon at the weekend, while their opponents sit in mid-table.