Striker Chris Bacon can expect a friendly welcome at The Walks this afternoon – well before and after the game at least.

The Cambridge City frontman, who joined the Lilywhites from Wisbech Town in the summer, returns to his old stomping ground in the FA Cup first qualifying round.

He scored 35 goals in 140 appearances during his spells with the 'old' and reformed Lynn and remains a popular figure due to his friendly nature. But King's Lynn Town first team coach, and pal, Ross McNeil admits those pleasantries will soon disappear once the referee blows his whistle.

He said: 'Chris Bacon is a top player and a great lad who had some good times at Lynn.

'He did well at Wisbech and he'll now be trying to well for Cambridge. Between 3-5pm we don't want him to do well this Saturday though.

'He was a good servant for King's Lynn and I'm sure he's looking forward to coming back. I'm looking forward to seeing him before and after the game, but he's an opposition player once the whistle goes.

'It's going to be a tough game. Setch (Gary Setchell, manager) has been to see them twice and Neil (Fryatt, assistant) and I went with him once. They're a good team and a well-run club.

'It's a really tough draw at this stage of the FA Cup but we will have home advantage, which will hopefully play a part. Our home form has been absolutely outstanding since the club was reformed (in 2010) and it's been a major strong point for us.'

Lynn, who play at the same level as Cambridge but in different leagues, have yet to taste a defeat on their own turf this season after gaining promotion for the second campaign in a row.

They only lost a handful of games at The Walks last term – one of which was an FA Cup first qualifying round replay against Daventry Town.That 3-2 defeat was one of the only low points of a memorable season which saw Gary Setchell's men win the Evo-Stik Division One South crown and reach the last 16 of the FA Trophy.

And McNeil believes the current squad can be spurred on by last term's exit in the famous competition as they look to knock out the city-based outfit.

'Going out that night to Daventry, in extra-time, was pretty disappointing,' said the Linnets coach, known to some as Mr Motivator.

'It perhaps inspired our run in the FA Trophy and what we did in the league. Perhaps that disappointing Tuesday night kick-started things for us a bit.

'You always try and take the positives out of every game so last year's underachievement in the FA Cup could inspire us this time to maybe make some more history for our new club.'

Midfielder Gary Mills (knee) and defender Jordan Yong (toe) are fitnress doubts going into the match which sees a tasty sum of £3,000 on offer for the winners – as well as a place in Monday's second qualifying round draw.

The Linnets go into the tie on a high after recording back-to-back wins for the first time this campaign in the past seven days.

Saturday's 2-1 home triumph over Droylsden will forever be remembered for striker Rob Duffy's goal inside 30 seconds of his debut.

And he came off the bench to great effect again in midweek to grab two goals in Lynn's excellent 4-1 triumph at Worksop Town.

Shane Tolley, who has since left the club to join Ryman Premier Division Bury Town, netted the opener while young centre-back Ryan Fryatt – who has been on 'loan' at Dereham Town – also got his name on the scoresheet.

Setchell was forced into shuffling his pack after six players arrived late due to traffic on the M1. And McNeil says the performances of those who came in, like debutant Valter Fernandes, have left the Linnets coaching team with something of a selection headache.

He said: 'It's a testament to the lads who have been in and around the team. Things happen in football. The boys didn't mean to be late. But Setch put his faith in people, who have been training well, and they took their opportunities.'