Jamie Coyle admits Whitstable’s hotly-anticipated FA Cup trip to Sevenoaks is one everyone at the club is excited for.

The Southern Counties East Premier Division Oystermen will visit Greatness Park in the extra preliminary round as they face the Isthmian South East side on Saturday.

It’s a game which will see new Oaks manager Marcel Nimani face Whitstable in his first competitive game at the helm, having only left the Oystermen in April, while multiple former players are set to face their old clubs.

Whitstable boss Coyle said: “We’re really looking forward to it.

“We have seen a number of their games in pre-season and we know a lot of their players. We have got to do a lot more research this week.

“We have only retained five players from last year here. But there’s a lot of players we have played with or against previously that are there.

“It will be a good match.

"It’s a game that everyone at the club is looking forward to.

“We have got a full-strength squad - outside of Mikey Dalton - to choose from for Saturday.

“So, there’s going to be some real competition. It will be a very tough test and we will have to be at our best to force a result against a side from a higher league.

“We just need to make sure we prepare right.”

The winners will pocket £1,125 in prize money and then host Isthmian South Central Leatherhead in the preliminary round.

Whitstable were dramatically pegged back, being held to a 3-3 draw at Sutton Athletic from their opening league game of their campaign last weekend.

Leading 3-1 heading into injury time after goals from forwards Jerson Dos Santos and Harvey Smith (2) had helped them recover from an early set-back, Elias Ahmed converted a controversial penalty, awarded for handball by defender Finn O'Mara, in the 93rd minute. Ahmed then struck again three minutes later.

“It was erratic to say the least,” reflected Coyle.

"Obviously, we went one down early on and the tempo was kind of slow. We then scored at a great time, just before half-time,from a set-piece.

“But, in the second half, we created so many chances. Even at 3-1, the game should have been dead and buried - we created enough chances in the game for it to be completely done.

“Unfortunately, we kind of prepared the players, knowing there will be some really tough officiating during the season that we will have to get over.

"We got a penalty given against us that was controversial and a little bit dubious, and that knocked the lads a little bit.

“It went 3-2 and then they scored an absolute screamer from outside the box with the last kick of the game.

“It was a really frustrating afternoon.

"But looking at the positives, we scored three really good goals.

“Away from home, that should be enough to win the game - but it wasn’t.”

Talented prospect Smith previously has worked alongside Coyle and No.2 Matt Longhurst at Ramsgate.

Coyle revealed: “When we took him off the pitch, we really missed him.

“He missed half of the pre-season, so he’s not fit enough to complete a 90-minute game yet.

“He has been a revelation, really. I’ve worked with him before.

“He has everything that he needs to really push on. But it was more his all-round play that was a thorn in their side.

“I’m really pleased he could get off to a good start.

"But I’m sure we will only get more out of him because he’s not 100 percent fit yet.

“We have got a really nice mix of young, talented, players, who have bright futures in the game, and experienced players.”

The Oystermen's trip to Sutton Athletic also saw newly-signed midfielders Marvin Herschel and Mitch Chapman make their first club starts, Ali Fofahan coming off the bench for Herschel at half-time.