FAIRFORD boss Paul Braithwaite is hoping that Marlow’s trip to Cinder Lane in the Floodlit Cup quarter-final tonight will be as uncomfortable as possible.

Braithwaite’s troops play a division below the Hellenic Premier leaders, who are on course to return to the Southern League at the first attempt.

With the underdog tag firmly attached to the home side, Braithwaite hopes the conditions will prove something of a leveller.

He said: “It will be an interesting game with them being top of the Premier. There’s quite a lot of money in the club and they have some top players.

“From what I can see, they seem to concentrate on making sure they use their squad and they have a good squad. When we have a bit of money you can keep quite a few around.

“Hopefully it’s cold and wet and they won’t want to travel, that’s what we’re after. We’ll try and make it ugly for them.

“We’ve got a few players missing but we’ve got a great reserve squad at the moment and have players who can come in, so it just creates opportunities for people.”

Dan English, Brad Gill, Richie Carter are all cup-tied while Nathan Gambling and Callum Parsons are missing due to work. Dan Drewett and Kyle Murdoch are doubtful.

In the Hellenic Premier, Highworth have a relegation six-pointer on their hands when they welcome Holyport to the Elms.

John Fisher’s side will move out of the bottom four if they take victory against their fellow relegation-battlers.

“We’ve got to be looking to win this one,” said Fisher.

“The pitch will be a bit heavy as the reserves played on it on Saturday, but It’s not about how well we play, it’s about three points.

“The lads that are out there now are good enough to get us out of trouble.”

Elsewhere, in Division One South & West, Cirencester will aim to follow up their surprise victory over Hungerford on Saturday with a win at North Leigh.

In the Southern Premier, Chippenhamentertain high-flying Hemel Hempstead.