IF Worcester City are going to advance in the FA Trophy they will need to find a way past one of English football’s most stubborn defences.

Burham arrive at St George’s Lane on Saturday for a third qualifying round clash having not lost a game in 12 Zamaretto League Division One Midlands matches this season.

They have conceded just seven league goals, the second-best record in the entire country behind Lowestoft Town of Ryman Division One North.

City have scored four goals in a game on three occasions, against Dorchester, Weston-super-Mare — both in the league — and Redditch United in the Worcestershire FA Senior Cup this term and will need to replicate that form against the team two leagues below them.

However, manager Richard Dryden knows his side will not have it all their own way as City look to progress beyond this stage of the competition for the first time since 2006.

He said: “They are going to fancy their chances when they see where we are in the league.

“It’s not going to be a cakewalk but we are going to be massive favourites and we don’t want to let the bookies down.

“There is pressure on us because we are expected to win. Every round there are a couple of shocks and we are getting ourselves as well prepared as we can to nulify their threat and exploit their weaknesses. It was the same when we played Bourne in the FA Cup.”

He added: “We want to score more goals than we have done but we have scored four at home three times which is decent.

“Although Redditch rested a few players on Monday, the chances created were brilliant. It wasn’t just four chances and four goals.”

Alfie Carter scored twice in Monday’s victory and is expected to fill the left-back berth vacated by Shabir Khan, who is away on international duty with Pakistan, but captain Tom Kemp (rib) will not feature and right-sided player Graham Ward (ankle) is struggling.

Dryden added: “We have got people like Mark Clyde to come back in and Alfie Carter has got himself fit. Kevin Spencer has also done a good job so we have got plenty of cover.”

Striker Marc McGregor is available again but Weston-super-Mare loanee forward Marvin Brown is ineligible after the Seagulls refused permission for him to play.

Burnham have signed striker Dennis Fenemore from Leighton Town, the division’s top marksman with 11 goals.

However, he did not feature in the Berks & Bucks Senior Cup 8-0 thrashing of Bracknell Town on Tuesday and it is feared he may miss the game through injury.