Southport boss Liam Watson believes his players' lower-level backgrounds will help them cope at The Walks on Saturday.

The Blue Square Premier outfit make the long trip from Merseyside hoping to not become the latest victim of King's Lynn Town's giantkilling FA Trophy run.

Gary Setchell's men have already dumped out five higher-level teams on their way to a third round tie against the former Football League club. But Watson insists his men are well prepared for the last-16 clash.

The Port boss, whose outfit play three tiers above Lynn, said: 'You only have to look at Macclesfield and Luton in the FA Cup on Saturday, and Lynn against Telford in the last round, to know that upsets happen.

'I've been to Lynn and it's a hostile place to play where the crowd will be behind them. But we'll be professional. Almost all of our players come from a lower level, not many have stepped down, as we lost six players in the summer. So they know what it's going to be like.

'I didn't turn professional until I was 22 and I grew up in Sunday and Northern Counties leagues so we'll have the right mentality. I expect the players to perform.'

The Haig Avenue club sit mid-table in non-league's top tier and have a mix of full time and part time players in their squad. Watson, a former Preston North End striker, also works as a technical instructor at Ashworth Hospital — one of three high-security psychiatric units of its kind in England and Wales.

But the two-time Blue Square North winning boss still finds plenty of time to pass on his footballing expertise, and do his ball-based homework.

Watson said: 'I'm pretty pally with Graham Drury (ex-Stamford, now Boston United boss) and I spoke to Andy Sinton (Telford boss) so we've done our homework. I'm fully aware of Lynn's threats.We won 13 games away last season which for a part-time club is phenomenal. At home, there's more pressure, and we like to counter attack because we've got great pace. It's maybe why we tend to do better away.'

Southport warmed up for their trip to The Walks with a 4-2 home league win over Lincoln last night. They have now lost just two matches from 12 in all competitions.