CHIPPENHAM Town manager Mark Collier believes that his side couldn’t be better prepared for their attempt to shatter Billericay Town’s unbeaten run and reach the final qualifying stage of the FA Cup.

The Bluebirds meet the Blues on Saturday as Collier’s Evo-Stik League Southern Premier Division promotion-chasers travel to Essex in the third qualifying round, with £7,500 of prize money on the line.

Isthmian League Premier Division outfit Billericay have racked up seven successive victories in all competitions and the winners will then be one step away from earning a spot in the first round proper and the prestige of a potential clash with an EFL side.

Chippenham’s opposite numbers from the South East have reached that stage three times, most recently in November 2007 when they lost 2-1 to then-League One Swansea City.

Collier’s troops got back to winning ways on Tuesday as they recovered from a 4-0 loss at King’s Lynn Town with a 3-1 win on the road at Dorchester Town, striker Andy Sandell scoring his 10th and 11th goals of the season, and the Hardenhuish Park chief is firm in his stance that his team have what it takes to safely progress to the next round.

“It’s an exciting time,” said Collier.

“They’ve won seven in a row and any side like that are going to be difficult to play against but there’s no reason for us to be fearful of going there – our own form is good.

“They’ve played on the counter in their last few games and they play with a lot of physicality, so we’ll have to be ready to deal with that.

“The FA Cup draw hasn’t been the kindest to us with an away trip this time and a home game against Poole in the last round but we overcame that challenge and hopefully we can do it again.”

A clutch of players could be back for the Bluebirds this weekend, with midfielder Michael Pook set to be assessed following a groin strain while Conor McCormack could also be back in action after featuring for feeder club Chippenham Park in midweek.

Fellow full-back Nuno Felix is expected to be fit after missing Tuesday’s Dorchester triumph with an ankle injury while centre-half Will Richards, who was unavailable for that trip to Dorset, is back in contention.