MANAGER Craig Davis does not want his players carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders when Winchester City bid to make the FA Cup fourth qualifying round for only the fourth time in club history at home to Cirencester Town on Saturday (3pm).

Davis has stressed from the outset that people should not expect too much from his modestly assembled side.

The Citizens, though, have defied all expectations and, even though they dipped out of the FA Trophy on penalties to Slimbridge on Tuesday, they have lost just once over 90 minutes all season.

They secured an eyebrow-raising 4-1 win at Merthyr Town in the last round of the Cup and, in Tyrell Mitford – scorer of 12 goals in 11 games in all competitions, six of them in the FA Cup – they possess the kind of frontline hero that footballing fairytales are made of.

With the prospect of National League clubs coming in at the next stage, the potential rewards are high this weekend.

But Davis’s message to his squad ahead of the all-Evo-Stik South Division One clash will be to go out and enjoy themselves as City attempt to reach the final qualifying round for the first time since the mid-1950s.

There is £15,000 from the FA Prize Fund awaiting Saturday’s winners, but Winchester have already kept the club treasurer happy by banking a tidy sum of 17,890 for seeing off Bournemouth Poppies, Frome Town and Merthyr.

“We’re at home, but Cirencester have got a good away record and their style suits being away from home, so it’s one of those 50-50 games which takes the pressure of everyone,” said Davis.

“Being brutally honest, our first FA Cup game was the pressure one for us because we needed to win some money.

“Now we’ve banked some, there is less pressure on us from a club perspective.

“We work hard and put in all these long hours to play games of football like this and I just want the lads to embrace the occasion and play without pressure.

“There are bigger things going on than the football itself with the deaths of two of our club stalwarts, Tina Elkins and ‘Mr Winchester’ Terry Bone. Hopefully we can go out and win it for them.”

The club held a minute’s silence for long-standing supporter Tina Elkins on Tuesday and will pay tribute to life vice-president Terry Bone before kick-off on Saturday.

“Terry was a much-loved and influential character around the club and will be sorely missed.

"Our thoughts are with his wife, Lyn, and family during this difficult time,” said a WCFC statement.

City will welcome Winchester, Southampton, Eastleigh and AFC Bournemouth season-ticket holders to the Simplyhealth City Ground on Saturday for a reduced admission price of £7.

Charlie Griffin’s Cirencester, who have beaten Windsor, AFC Stoneham and Binfield on their Cup journey so far, also possess a proven match-winner in Ben Whitehead.

He jointly lifted the league golden boot award last season and, like ex-QPR youngster Mitford, has netted 12 this term.