Thetford Town hope to shock Dereham Town in last eight of the Norfolk Senior Cup

Sam Borrer and his Dereham team-mates are going for glory in the Ryman North and Norfolk Senior Cup. Picture: IAN BURT (Image: Archant © 2013)

The Thurlow Nunn Premier Division outfit are looking to repeat a shock last-round victory on their own turf against Norwich City Under-21s as they try to seal a semi-final slot. Dereham go into the match as favourites, plying their trade one tier above the hosts in the non-league ladder, but Thetford boss Mark Scott insists he is glad to adopt the underdog status once again for the first of four last-eight ties.

The Brecklanders' manager said: 'We were written off before the game against Norwich (1-0 win) and I hope everyone is doing the same thing this time.

'Not that we should need any more motivation but I don't want us to have any pressure. Pressure was us needing to get three points against Ely in the league on January 2 (2-1 win). We were expected to win that. Nobody expected us to get a result against Norwich, it'll be the same against Dereham, and I want us to enjoy it and try and do a job on them.

'Dereham come expecting to beat us but they know they're going to have to earn the right to reach the semi-finals. We won't make it easy for them, just like we did against Norwich, and if we play like we did that night and cut out the mistakes then I see no reason why we can't cause another upset.'

Thetford, 12th, are enjoying their best county-cup run since they were runners-up to Gorleston in 2012. The same goes for play-off chasing Ryman North Dereham. The Magpies beat King's Lynn Town to lift the trophy in 2011 but have been knocked out in the fourth round in successive campaigns since.

Boss Matt Henman, whose men are sixth but will move into the top five if they win just two of their four games in hand, said: 'I think trying to get in the play-offs and winning the Norfolk Senior Cup are equal in terms of importance for us.

'We want to win every game we are in and we're in a good position as a group because we haven't got too many injuries, other than Adam Smith with his knee and Luke Tuttle and Gary Starling who are longer-term problems.

'We rested six players on Saturday (2-1 win against Thurrock) who had played against Soham on Thursday (2-1 loss) so we'll be able to rotate again if we wish and still field a very strong 11. The Norfolk Senior Cup final is mid-May, which is after the league and play-offs have finished. If we get there it can give the players another incentive.'

Norwich United welcome Gorleston on Saturday while Wroxham host Scole United and Diss entertain Lynn on Tuesday week in the other quarter-finals.