Pickering Town have got one of their best ever chances of national cup success almost within reach - and they are not about to squander it.

They make the 140-mile journey to North West Counties side Nantwich Town tomorrow in their first ever FA Vase quarter-final game knowing that the way the axe has fallen on the big-name clubs has carved as open a draw as there has been in years.

Player-manager Alex Mathie said: "When you look at all the teams to have gone out of the cup so far, we will probably never get a better chance than this.

"That's not taking anything away from Nantwich - they are probably thinking exactly the same thing. If we perform and we work hard on them I think our ability will come out on top.

"I think we have got a good chance and I'm looking forward to it."

Cheering on their tilt at a coveted two-leg semi-final place will be a travelling contingent of about 100, 55 on a supporters' club bus.

Chairman Tony Dunning said: "It's wonderful for us to get this far - a team like Pickering - and we have got as good a chance as anybody to get to the final.

"It doesn't matter who you are - big or little - it's all about if you do well on the day."

Mathie is taking a squad of 19 to the game with himself included, and will decide on the final 11 late on with a fully fit squad causing him the kind of headache that manager's want on the eve of a big cup game.

The most important thing though is the performance and the attitude of those that take the field.

He added: "We have just got to make sure that we go there realising that we are playing against a good side.

"We have got to be on top form and all the players have got to realise that they will not be easy.

"Buxton thought they just had to turn up and we've got to make sure we don't get in that mindset, although I don't think we will because we know any team that beats Buxton is a good one."

Pickering Town squad: Carl Silburn, Mike McNaughton, Matthew Morton, Dean MacAuley, James Drinkall, Mark Swales, Steve Swales, Lee Nogan, Ricky Greening, Seb Towse, Liam Salt, Steve Baxter, Steve Roberts, Danny Brunton, Lee Pallender, Rob Green, Jamie Ramm, Georgie Rose, Alex Mathie.

Updated: 10:59 Friday, March 03, 2006