Rugby Town host Chasetown this afternoon in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round.

Rugby's poor start to the season continued on Tuesday evening with the 0-1 reversal at home to Daventry Town and Dave Stringer's men will be hoping a run in the FA Cup can prove to be a tonic.

Valley defeated Midland Football League side Westfields 2-0 in the Preliminary Round two weeks ago while opponents Chasetown made it though with a replay win over Newcastle Town.

Rugby won through to this tie against Chasetown with a 2-0 win at lower league Westfields two weeks ago

Chasetown

Staffordshire-based Chasetown ply their trade in an equivalent level to Rugby - in the Northern Premier League Division One South.

Last season they finished in mid-table and have made a decent start to this season, currently lying in 7th position.

Head to Head: Rugby v Chasetown

Rugby have only ever previously faced Chasetown in cup ties including last season's 1-2 defeat at The Scholars Ground in the FA Trophy.

Rugby prevailed against Chasetown in the FA Cup during the 1990's with a 1-0 win at Butlin Road in 1997 in the Preliminary Round and a Third Qualiying Round Replay win at Butlin Road in 1991.

Player News

Rugby are hoping to welcome back winger Jamie Towers and midfielder Richard Blythe to today's squad.

Blythe has completed his three match suspension while Towers was unavailable on Tuesday due to work commitments.

Otherwise, Dave Stringer is not expected to have any further injury worries but will decide whether to shuffle his pack after the mid-week defeat.

Defender Ben George could line up for Valley only ten days after leaving Chasetown.

Chasetown have ex-Rugby midfielder Lee Parsons in their matchday squad.

Valley Squad from: Bennion; Austin, George, Kelly, Rowley, Gudger, Simpson; Blythe, Towers, Jepson, Youngs, K Bishop, Grocott; Kolodynski, Lake-Gaskin, Weale.