Hinckley AFC will host the Bulls at St. John's Park this forthcoming Saturday in the Buildbase FA Vase Second Round proper.
AFC Mansfield will have to compete without some key players due to injuries and suspension. Liam Marsden and Matty Plummer continue to nurse injuries while Ollie Fearon will serve the last game of his four-match ban watching from the stands. Bulls boss, Rudy Funk, will know this is not ideal as he hopes to progress to the next round.
The hosts themselves are not in an ideal position. Having recently acquired a new manager, they have entered a transitional phase. Sitting fifth in their respective league, the Midland League Division One outfit will be hoping to do a number over the Bulls - who are a league above them in the footballing pyramid.
Funk identified this, saying: "I know they have recently changed their manager meaning that their players are bound to be up for it. They'll want to play for the shirt but we have to go there and match them.
"Just because Hinckley are a level below us it still means nothing - we have to treat it like a standard FA Vase tie.
Midweek games have been the order of the past few weeks and Funk's side enjoyed a night off this Tuesday. Due to an impressive FA Cup run at the beginning of the campaign, the players have had to make up for their games in hand.
The Bulls' boss said: "It was a nice change of direction for us this Tuesday. The lads have been working hard recently so we decided to go bowling. He humorously added: "But of course, I won."
Funk will be confident that his side can progress into the third round of the FA Vase, with potentially, a place at Wembley at stake further down the line.
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