Didcot Town boss Dave Mudge is relishing testing his managerial skills against Frank Gray when they host his Basingstoke side in Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy first round tie at Loop Meadow Stadium.

But he says his Division 1 South & West side will have to be at their best to avoid a repeat of last season’s result when they lost 4-0 at home to the same oppponents.

“Frank Gray is an experienced manager. He knows what it’s all about and how to win matches.

“I never managed a team against one of his sides, so I’m looking forward to pitting my wits against him.”

Mudge said his team will face a tougher battle than against Bromley whom they beat 3-1.

He added: “They are a totally different proposition.

“Bromley are a bottom-three side, whereas Basingstoke have got the quality to be a top Conference side.

“We are not expected to do anything. We would have to be at 110 per cent and they would have to be at 70 per cent for us to do something.”

However, Didcot are likely to be without skipper Alex Stanley after he suffered an ankle ligament injury in Tuesday’s 3-1 defeat at Paulton Rovers.

Kevin Haliday (knee), Steve Davis (leg gash) and Danny Seaward (ankle) are doubts, though Simeon Howell and Aaron Turner return.

Mudge added: “We are struggling to get a team out.

“We were kicked off the park, but we have to get on with it.

“If we get a bit of luck, we can do it, so we’re going to give it our best shot.”

Gray, a former Scottish international, added: “We have to be professional and cannot think that it will be easy, because it won’t be.

“Didcot had an excellent result against Bromley and it will be a battle to get through.”

Didcot Tn (v Basingstoke, home): from Santangelo, Elkins, Peirson, Henderson, Halliday, Mudge, Davis, Millar, Bailey, Howell, Turner, Bangura, Seaward, Asombang, Ikpeauz, Beames.