Whitstable Town face a voyage into the unknown when they entertain Potters Bar Town in the FA Trophy on Saturday.

The Hertfordshire side play in Calor League Division 1 Central and Oystermen boss Nicky Southall admits they’re an unknown quantity.

With £2,700 prize money and a place in the second qualifying round at stake for the winners, he’s treating the visitors with caution.

Southall said: “We don’t know a lot about them but we know it’s going to be a difficult game. It’s a cup tie and anything can happen so we’ve got to be on our guard.

“Because we don’t know each other, we’ll feel each other out for the first 15 or 20 minutes and see where we are.

“It’s all very well to say we’ll come out and make a fast start but I’m too long in the tooth to think it works like that.”

Whitstable are looking to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 league defeat at Folkestone, whose manager Neil Cugley this week said his side would be better off playing in the FA Vase than the Trophy.

But Southall said: “There’s a huge amount on this game and I want us to get through into the next round, to keep our momentum going.

“There’s a big carrot at the end of the game for whoever gets through because it’s decent money. It’s a lifeline for clubs like ourselves and Potters Bar.”

James Morrish, John Guest and Steve Hafner are all suspended following their red cards in the Kent Senior Cup win over Herne Bay.

Jordan Wells is also banned after he was dismissed while playing for Whitstable’s under-21 side.

Meanwhile, Craig Maguire (groin) and Dan Wells (hamstring) are both injury doubts.

Southall said: “It’s not ideal but that’s why you build a squad. We’ve got to bounce back from Saturday and show some grit and determination.

“The pressure’s on us because we’re the home side. It’s natural.

“If we approach the game like we did against Sittingbourne (in the last round), we’ll be difficult to handle but if we don’t, we’ll fall short.”

Joe Kane (ankle) should be back this weekend and Ashley Baverstock (back) is also expected to be fit.