CHERRIES women head coach Steve Cuss will tell his players to be wary of a Keynsham side playing “their cup final” when they clash at Vitality Stadium this weekend.

For the third time this season Cherries women will play on the hallowed turf of Dean Court, following fixtures against Portishead Town and Charlton Athletic earlier on in the campaign.

With 5,500 tickets already sold, Cherries are anticipating another bumper crowd to be watching on.

Unbeaten Cherries will be aiming to preserve their league record as their title race with similarly invincible Exeter City heads to the wire.

Aside from a draw between the two sides, both Cherries and Exeter have won all of their league fixtures this campaign, the Grecians sitting top of the FA Women’s National League Division One South West by virtue of having played two more games.

Cherries have eight games remaining in their league campaign which might be decided by goal difference.

In recent months Cherries have bolstered their squad with new arrivals, their openness about their promotion ambitions arguably painting a target on their backs.

Asked if he felt that other sides viewed Cherries as a potential scalp, Cuss told the Daily Echo: “No doubt.

“If I was a Keynsham player, it'd be my cup final out there on Sunday.

“It's probably their biggest game of the season to be able to play a Premier League ground and we're delighted that we're able to provide that opportunity for teams as well.

“But it would probably raise them and we'll mention that as well to our players about that.

“Give them a little extra step, that they'll be playing at a Premier League ground and they'd be playing in front of 5,500 people as well.

“Last season we found it quite difficult to break down a Maidenhead side and couldn't get the goal to win the game.

“So we are fully aware that it will raise the opposition as well.”

Cuss also provided an injury update ahead of Sunday’s game, ruling out three players and expressing doubts over Kenni Thompson.

“We've got one or two injuries,” he restarted.

“We've got Helen Bleazard, Molly Gladwell, Holly Humphreys, they're definitely out.

“They won't be fit.

“Kenni Thompson's got a slight problem.

“Hopefully she will be fit by Sunday, but, apart from them, everybody else is fully fit and have trained this week.”