BOSS Callum Brooks is confident Hamworthy United will deal with the boot being on the other foot when they host Wessex One Amesbury Town in the FA Vase on Saturday.

Hammers played the part of underdog as they overcame Southern League Division One outfit AFC Totton to advance in the FA Cup five days ago.

But Wessex Premier Hammers will have to deal with the added pressure of being the higher league opposition in this first qualifying round tie.

Brooks told the Daily Echo: “We will approach the Amesbury game in the same way as any other.

"Yes, we might expect to have more of the ball and be on the front foot more than against, say, Totton, but in regards of respect to the opposition, it is exactly the same.

“We’ve had some information on Amesbury, we’ve trained and prepared with the same thoroughness as we did against Totton because I’m aware that these games can be tricky. If you go into these games thinking everything will be easy, you’ll come up short at this level.”

Hammers are currently unbeaten at home in all competitions and Brooks is hoping a winning start at the Specsavers County Ground will set the tone for the campaign.

Brooks added: “To do well in any competition, I think your base is always to have good, solid home form.

"When you’re in the knack of picking up three points and wins at home and being very hard to beat, what you get away from adds to that – and it means you can play away from home with a little more free dom.

"At the end of the day, if you have a really good home form you’re going to pick up a lot of points, which is what we need to do.

“The way we’ve started at home has been really, really positive. The way we’ve started in general has been really positive, full stop.”

While Hammers have only played three league games so far, Brooks is unconcerned with any sort of fixture pile-up: “At the moment, we’re on cup duty and they’re good cups, big cups, and they can really add value to both the club and the team. That’s in terms of the prestige of getting through a few rounds, beating higher league opposition as well as the financial aspect for the club.

“For us, we know that is a big part of it, and I’d like to have as many games in hand clocked up as possible because that means we’re going to go further in the FA Cup and the Vase.”

Also in the first qualifying round, Christchurch host Folland Sports at Hurn Bridge tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm).

On Saturday, Bashley host AFC Portchester, Poppies entertain Bristol Telephones and Ringwood welcome Alresford. Lymington host Portland at Brockenhurst's Grigg Lane (all 3pm).

Brockenhurst entertain Sholing in Wessex Premier tomorrow (Friday, 7.45pm).

New Milton welcome Wessex One leaders Verwood to Fawcett's Field on Saturday (3pm).