EASTLEIGH have focused on team spirit as well as tactics in the build-up to Saturday's FA Cup fourth qualifying round tie at home to Hampton & Richmond Borough (3pm).

Interim boss Ben Strevens took the team paintballing on Monday before knuckling down to some full-on training for the visit of the sixth-placed National League South club.

“Under one of my previous managers, we always did something a bit different for the FA Cup because it’s a special week,” Strevens explained.

“If we get through and I’m still in the job, we’ll do something different again for the first round.

“Going paintballing was good for team building, the lads enjoyed it and it’s also quite tough on the legs.

“When Hess (Andy Hessenthaler) was here, he wanted the boys to do things together outside of football, either arranged by themselves or by us.

"If you have a good team spirit away from football, you’ll take it onto the pitch.”

Monday’s excursion was a positive way to start the week after the disappointment of Saturday’s 2-1 home league defeat by Aldershot.

“It’s okay to be down on the Saturday and Sunday – I know I was,” said Strevens.

“But there’s nothing you can do to change the result and, come Monday, it’s about learning from it and making sure you don’t make the same mistakes again.”

Right-back Josh Hare gave paintballing a miss after sitting out the Shots game with a toe injury, but he was hoping to return to training towards the end of the week.

Defender Alex Wynter, who went off with an eye problem against Aldershot, was given the all-clear after hospital checks, and Eastleigh have been in negotiations over whether on-loan Sunderland goalkeeper Max Stryjek will be allowed to play.

Goalkeeping coach Ross Flitney is on standby in case the Black Cats don’t want Stryjek cup-tied.

"As it stands, we don't have permission to play Max," said Strevens yesterday. "We're going to have more discussions, but if Sunderland say 'no', I do understand. We didn't let AFC Totton play (on-loan Eastleigh striker) Tom Bearwish in the FA Cup."

After stringing together a run of six straight league/cup wins, Hampton & Richmond have lost two of their last three games.

The Beavers have so far beaten Burgess Hill 3-0 and Hornchurch 1-0 in the FA Cup. They are captained by ex-Salisbury midfielder Ricky Wellard.