Lowestoft Town will be drawing inspiration from outside of Suffolk as they kick-start their latest quest to reach Wembley.

The Trawlerboys were dumped out of this season's FA Cup at the first hurdle but never realistically stood a chance of making it all the way to the home of football. Yet it's a different story in the FA Trophy – a competition for teams from Step One to Four of the non-league pyramid – where reaching the final remains a dinstinct possibility.

The Blues begin their adventure in today's third qualifying round at home to same-level St Albans City. The pair compete alongside North Ferriby United at Step Two and can take heart from the Villagers' glorious run last season which saw them eventually defeat Wrexham on penalties to lift the trophy in the capital.

Lowestoft boss Ady Gallagher said: 'If a team from our league can go all the way to the final and win it then that's encouraging.

'The Trophy is a tough competition but last season proves what can be achievable for a club like ours. We want to stay in the competition for as long as possible. Financially it would be massively beneficial and there's also big incentives for the management, players and fans.

'We haven't had much excitement from a cup run for a couple of years as we've been really unlucky with our draws, especially in the FA Cup. That's changed, it's nice to be at home, and hopefully we can get on a nice little run and create a little bit of excitement around the club.

'It would give everybody a lift, help continue some growing form, and keep the momentum building.'

National League North Lowestoft, unbeaten in three, will pocket £4,000 prize money if they see off their struggling visitors from the set-up's southern section. Albans sit second-from-bottom and have won once in seven league outings.

Ryan Jarvis will miss today's game through suspension as a result of Lowestoft's Suffolk Premier Cup trip to Haverhill Rovers being postponed on Tuesday night.

That fixture would have completed the former Norwich City striker's three-game ban.

Midfielder Harvey Hodd, 19, is likely to be in the squad after completing another return to Lowestoft, this time on a two-month loan from Fleetwood Town.

Young Canaries keeper Ben Killip will also remain with the Trawlerboys until the new year after his temporary stay was extended until January 2.

Gallagher added: 'This is Harvey's third spell with us and we know he's a very good midfielder.

'He's not playing as much as he would like at Fleetwood so we've taken the opportunity to bring him here to try and give him some more game time. It gives us another option in the central midfield area where we've been incredibly light.'

Today's tie will go to a replay if it ends as a draw.

Lowestoft are our area's only remaining side left in the Trophy after King's Lynn Town (Step Three) and Step Four duo Dereham Town and Wroxham were knocked out in the early stages.