DAVE Titterton will fire up Stourport Swifts by admitting they are underdogs for Saturday's FA Cup first qualifying round clash.

Rugby United, the visitors to Walshes Meadow, have won four out of their five Dr Martens Western Division games so far.

But Titterton has promised to give the cup tie a "good go", despite several injury worries and the loss of John Shirley who is off to university in the London area to study teaching.

He said: "On form, John's probably one of the best midfielders in the league. He's creative and not easily replaced."

Swifts have signed former Worcester left-sided player Jamie Hyde, who had been at Bromsgrove in pre-season, but not in time for Saturday.

Titterton admitted: "I would definitely say we are underdogs for the cup tie with the start they have had but we have nothing to lose.

"I want to make three or four changes. I want us to go from the start, not in cavalier fashion, but with high-tempo football."

Forward James Wood is back from holiday but Kerry Giddings (knee), Ronnie Sayer (groin), John Cotterill (hamstring) and keeper Lee Evans (shoulder) are rated as 50-50.

Craig Webb, Steven Hawkes and Willie Dunn, who has returned from a long-term injury, are all in line to possibly step into the Swifts side.

But John Hayward, who was on the bench last weekend after joining the club from local football, will be out for several weeks after an eye operation.

Titterton said of Rugby: "They are a good young team but very experienced too. I saw them play Bromsgrove on Saturday and they played very good football to totally annihilate them.

"It will be very difficult on Saturday but you don't get any easy games at this standard."

The game will again be covered by the television cameras from BBC Midlands Today as they continue to track Swifts' cup exploits.

Swifts manager added: "It's nice for the club and the players. This is a different sort of cup challenge for me now I'm a manager. I have a lot of pride in our results and how we perform."

Strike duo Robbie Beard and Justin Marsden are set to be the main threats to Swifts with the former scoring five goals so far this season.