WORCESTER City begin their Buildbase FA Vase adventure this afternoon when they welcome free-scoring Lutterworth Town to Claines Lane (3pm kick-off).

The visitors are flying in the United Counties League Premier South with 10 wins from 14 league games and looking at their stats, you can see why.

Lutterworth have scored a staggering amount of goals already in the 2021/22 campaign, with 53 in just 17 games across all competitions.

Averaging over three goals a game, it is obvious where the threat comes from and City will have to be defensively on the money to keep their visitors at bay.

In terms of team news for the hosts, they are still having to manage a number of absentees and injuries but are hoping to welcome back striker Chris Sterling and Bailey Fuller, who both missed last weekend’s win over Boldmere St Michaels.

Goalkeeper Brendon Bunn will come back into the side at a timely moment as Adam Harrison is ineligible having already played in the Vase for Tividale this season.

Youngsters Matti Klitch, Archie Muirhead and Cameron Monteith all played for the reserves in the week and are expected to be involved this afternoon.

Manager Tim Harris remains without striker Daniel Westwood, who continues to struggle with a hamstring injury and the man tasked with filling his boots last weekend, skipper and centre-half Aaron Roberts, is another who is unavailable for the opening round of the competition.

Left-back Jamie Smith joins those sidelined for the cup tie so changes at the back are expected and they will have their hands full with one of the most deadly strikers at this level.

Lutterworth’s Tendai Daire has already netted 21 times this season from just 15 starts and together with fellow player Marshal Keenan (14 goals in 16 appearances) they account for over half the goals the team have managed in the 2021/22 campaign.

Manager Harris watched Lutterworth in their most recent win (Coventry United, 1-0) and he is expecting a very strong side to face off with his charges on Saturday.

“I must admit, they are brilliant,” he said.

“They have scored about 50 goals already and they look strong all over the park. They are an extremely strong outfit."

But City are a side that, despite all the injuries, that have shown a serious amount of grit to still chip away at the top of the Midland Football League Premier Division table.

They sit fourth in the table with 20 points from 12 games and despite playing a few games more than most, results like last weekend's 2-0 win at previous league leaders Boldmere St Michaels indicate encouraging signs.

"We still have a problem with consistency and that's the only frustrating thing.

"Had we not conceded two late goals earlier in the campaign to AFC Wulfrunians and another late equaliser at home to Highgate United, we could be in a better position.

"But the win last weekend was a good one against a strong side and if we can just keep picking up results like that, we will be in the mix and that's our aim."

Kick off this afternoon is at 3pm.