SWINDON Town’s FA Cup tie with Eastleigh will provide a much-needed boost to the club accounts but chairman Lee Power admits it will not be an easy task to progress.

Despite being two leagues above their National League opponents, only 38 places separate the two sides and Swindon’s run of one win in their last seven outings make next week's first round tie a precarious one for the League One side.

As a result of a potential upset on the cards, with Eastleigh claiming the scalp of Crewe Alexandra at the same stage last season before eventually succumbing to then-Championship side Bolton Wanderers in a third round replay, the BBC have chosen to air the clash live on Friday, November 4.

Power, along with many at Town, are not taking the game lightly and hope to keep the fireworks to a minimum on the eve of Bonfire night.

“It’s a really difficult tie,” he told BBC Wiltshire.

“I think if you were to pull out a tie you didn’t want, it was probably going down there.

“They have got a big budget. They are a strong team in that league and they will be smelling blood.

“If we turn up and play the way we can play, we will beat anyone, so we definitely won’t be fearing it but we’ll be respecting them.

“It is fairly local as well so hopefully we will sell out our allocation. It should be a good atmosphere and it is handy that it is on the telly as well – it brings a few pounds into the coffers.”

Eastleigh donated their proceeds from their qualifying round win over North Leigh to their eighth-tier opponents.

However, Power has admitted that he plans to use the extra cash from being on television to help keep Swindon on an even keel following a drop off in attendances at the County Ground.

“I think (with) the BBC, (it) is just under £70,000 that each club gets, which is a lot of money,” he added.

“I think everyone is aware as well that the gates have been poor this season.

“I understand why. The football has been very poor. That is what happens in football. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist.

“Obviously, that money helps because I run this business that way.

“It has got to break even and that money is helpful to replace the money that we’ve lost in the last few matches.”