CHRIS LAKEY Shaun Carey will tell King's Lynn's FA Cup heroes to concentrate on crown jewels of a different kind today when the Linnets travel to Windsor & Eton in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

CHRIS LAKEY

Shaun Carey will tell King's Lynn's FA Cup heroes to concentrate on crown jewels of a different kind today when the Linnets travel to Windsor & Eton in the third qualifying round of the FA Trophy.

Lynn travel to the picturesque Stag Meadow ground with joint caretaker boss Carey insisting their minds will be fixed firmly on only one competition and not letting next week's FA Cup tie against Oldham affect them.

Carey will definitely tinker with his side, but only because of the possibility of a Southern League, Premier Division trip to Northwood on Monday.

Rodney Hicks, a one-month loan singing from Peterborough, goes straight into the squad, although he will not start, while Carey and co-boss Dean West will have to work out how best to accommodate the loss of left-back Adam Smith, who went in the opposite direction earlier this week.

However, Carey and West know that their biggest challenge might just be keeping the players' minds off the Cup and on the Trophy.

"If your players are mentally right in the game and work as hard as they did against Cirencester, we will come through with a result," said Carey.

"I don't think next week's game will affect them. If you go into a game thinking you want to save yourself for something bigger you are not going to do yourself justice and you are going to be found out.

"There are still places up for grabs next Friday so that won't be the case."

Carey will definitely have to make a decision over the left-back slot, although there are several options: Charlie Defty and Stephen Harvey can come in or Mark Camm could be switched from midfield.

"Obviously I don't want to make too many players playing out of position," said Carey, who will also be hoping Mark Warren has recovered from a sore knee.

"I know Mark would be happy to play there, but until I see what Rodney can do I can't make a decision.

"I will be leaving a couple of players out, but that's simply because I don't want them playing on Saturday and then playing again on Monday.

"It's not a case of sending out a weakened squad, it's a case of changing the team because of the number of matches. I have already spoken to the players, I've thought about it all week and I'm happy with the team we will play."

Should Lynn or Northwood, who play Histon, draw the Monday trip will be postponed, with Trophy replays on Wednesday.

However, Carey is not concerned that Lynn face the possibility of two games within the space of three days in the week preceding the biggest match at The Walks for years.

"I think there is actually a benefit to be had because it doesn't give the players too much time to sit and think about it," he said.

"A long break means players can build up a bit of tension, but we could be playing Saturday and Monday and then training on Wednesday before playing on Friday.

"I am sure the lads will be right for the game on Friday. I am just hoping we can do ourselves justice like we have in the last few games."

Windsor & Eton ply their trade in the Southern League's Division One South and West, currently occupying fifth spot after losing for the first time since early September last weekend when they went down 2-1 to leaders Bashley. The fact that they are underdogs is not lost on Carey.

"It is going to be a really difficult game for us," he said "I know what happens when a team plays someone from a higher level and I know they will come out and get at us from the off, especially at home. But we will be ready."

King's Lynn (from): Marshall, West, Warren, Cooper, Camm, O'Halloran, McMahon, Melton, Notman, Frew, J Defty, C Defty, S Harvey, Hicks, Higgs, Nolan, Norris, Crane.