I'm not going to start the usual Friday prediction thread as I'm too nervous and excited to make a prediction for tomorrow, but I'm as excited as a puppy with two tails about the match so I had to post something to get it off my chest!!!

Will see you all in the bar at the Knitters at 1130 tomorrow. We're going to set off ahead of the coaches and get to the Rushden bar for a bite to eat with the kids before you lot arrive, but we wanted to get into the atmosphere a bit before we set off!!

In fact, we might see you at the bonfire tonight :D

From Leic Mercury

FA Cup: Hinckley United aim for another upset at Rushden & Diamonds

There will be no fear factor to inhibit Hinckley United's players tomorrow when they travel to face Rushden & Diamonds in the first round of the FA Cup.

Manager Dean Thomas accepts that his side are underdogs as they take on Blue Square Premier opposition.

But, having already dealt with opponents from the higher level in the shape of Histon in the fourth qualifying round, when Stuart Giddings struck twice, Thomas knows his players are quite capable of springing another upset.

The Knitters go into the game in good heart, too. They defeated Gainsborough Trinity 2-0 in Monday's Blue Square North game at the Greene King Stadium thanks to goals from Richard Lavery and Alex Taylor.

"The first half was similar to the Stalybridge game last week. We had a lot of possession but the final ball was letting us down," said Thomas.

"We stepped things up in the second half and scored a couple of excellent goals. We played some good football and with a lot of confidence."

The focus changes tomorrow and, although the Knitters have done exceptionally well to take their place in the first round, they will not be resting on their laurels.

Thomas said that reaching this stage of the FA Cup was always a target for clubs at this level.

But he added: "We have achieved that but, once you get there, you always want a bit more.

"It is an opportunity for us to progress but we know that we have to go to Rushden and be at our best.

"We've beaten some good sides to get where we are and we want to carry that on."

Thomas is more than satisfied with the way his side have gone about their business so far this season and feels that the Knitters players are enjoying their football.

"We are making things work and looking to progress all the time," he said.

"In terms of possession, we are playing with a lot of flair and a good tempo. We are working hard with a lot of enthusiasm when we don't have the ball, too."

Rushden are currently in sixth place in the Premier, having strung together four successive wins to climb the table.

They also posted a 3-0 victory at Workington to book their place in the first round of the Cup.

"We are the underdogs," Thomas admitted.

"But we are going to Rushden to try to get a result and not just make up the numbers.

"If that means bringing them back to Hinckley, that suits me."

Defender James Mace returns to the United squad after missing the last three games because of suspension.

But Thomas has no other bans or injury worries to concern him.