SHRIVENHAM manager Michael McNally says that his charges are chomping at the bit to blast off the cobwebs and get back into the thick of it this weekend.

An erratic early-season fixture list has left Shrivvy kicking their heels for the last two weeks but their enforced sabbatical finally comes to an end on Saturday when they make the trip to Hellenic League Premier Division basement side Wokingham & Emmbrook in FA Vase second round qualifying.

McNally, whose team beat Reading Town 3-2 in the previous round last month, expects his team to be raring to go this weekend and despite being chucked back in at the deep end against a team from a higher division.

With £800 in prize money also on the line, the Barrington Park boss thinks his team have what it takes to make a winning return to action.

“We’ve had a few training sessions over the last two weeks and one or two of the lads have played for the reserves but I think the boys have been pretty bored,” said the Shrivvy chief.

“It’s a long time to not have a game. I thought that we’d have another league game the week after this one but we’ve got a match in the Berks and Bucks (intermediate Trophy).

“I’ve not been too bad because I’ve been watching my son (Kian) play, so that’s kept me busy, but I think most people are really looking forward to having a game again.

“I saw Wokingham play against Bassett the other week and to be honest, I didn’t see too much to show that they’re going to be too much for us.

“They seem to play the same formation as us, which is 4-3-3.

“They’ve got a few older heads but they didn’t seem to have much pace whilst we’ve got a bit in our side.

“Hopefully they look at Shrivenham, bottom of the table (in Division One West) with only three games played, and get a little bit complacent.”

Corey Forbes and Daryl Harris return to the Shrivvy squad for Saturday’s Vase tie.

Elsewhere, Royal Wootton Bassett and Fairford Town are also in second round qualifying action, taking on Combined Counties League opposition in Windsor and Badshot Lea respectively.