JASON Matthews believes that a number of his senior players have a point to prove when they take on Braintree Town at the Bob Lucas Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

The Terras’ boss insists his side are “big underdogs” for the clash worth £12,500 in prize money, but should not be written off against a team that has endured indifferent form in the Conference of late, and currently sit 16th in the division.

Matthews was in attendance to cast his eye over the Iron in their 3-0 reverse at Barnet in midweek, their fourth loss on the spin in the league.

And the player-manager believes that the experienced heads in his dressing room as well as himself will want to show the Essex-based side that they are still more than capable of competing at that level.

“We are big underdogs even though we are at home but we will give it our best shot and I feel that if we play well, on our day, we will give them a game,” he told Echosport.

“From my own point of view, I want to prove that I can still play at that level and I know my senior pros are like that as well.

“We need to play with a good tempo and believe in ourselves. Even though we are two leagues lower, I feel that some of our lads should be playing in that league and it’s their chance to prove it.

“We have done well to get as far as we have with some tough away games en route and I want everyone to enjoy the day, but it is only enjoyable when you put in a good performance.”

Including the Terras’ chief, just three members of the starting XI that took on Braintree last term remain at Weymouth, almost a year to the day that they were dumped out of the cup at the same stage in a 2-1 defeat.

The other two players that started that game include skipper Stewart Yetton, who has scored in all of the club’s FA Cup ties this season, and Sam Poole, who notched the consolation in the fixture between the two teams last term.

Casting his eye back to that defeat, Matthews added: “They came and did a job on us and they were two up early doors and that is something I don’t want to happen this year.

“I feel we are more professional now, there were a few boys that were just on a meal ticket before and this year I feel I have a team that is keen.”

Not wanting to give any hints to their visitors, the club have removed this season’s goal highlights from their YouTube page, so that Braintree could not scout the Terras’ set-piece moves from afar.

Matthews said: “We just felt that for a couple of weeks they shouldn’t have a look at us and the set-pieces we work on, we just didn’t want to give them a leg up. We didn’t really want to give them a hand and wanted give ourselves the best possible chance.”

Should the tie go to a replay, Weymouth should also have the services of Calvin Brooks secured, as they are set to extend the defender’s loan deal.

Terras (from): Matthews, Wells, Copp, McPhee, J Laird, Brooks, Kelly, Winsper, Colwell, Yetton, Sills, Rigg, Shephard, Jevon, Wannell, Palmer, Prodomo.