MAGPIES’ boss Phil Simkin is quietly confident his troops can deliver a major upset in tomorrow’s FA Cup tie with Plymouth Argyle (4.30pm).

There may be two divisions and 40 places between the two teams but with home advantage and a large crowd behind them, non-League Dorchester Town believe a giant-killing is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Simkin, whose side will be appearing in the first round proper for the first time in four years, told Echosport: “I just want us to put on a good show.

“Whatever the result, I want people to go away thinking that we can play a bit.

“If it’s not good enough then so be it but we are going into the game thinking we can get a result.

“Research-wise we have gone through it with a fine toothcomb. I know how they play in terms of their shape but I’m not exactly sure about the personnel as they have around 30-odd players to choose from.

“We are obviously going to try and nullify them and stop them playing in certain areas. If we can stay in it as long as we can, we might be able to nick something.

“I expect we will be doing a lot of defending as they are a full-time side with good players. They are not the side that was knocked out by Stourbridge in last year’s competition.

“We will try and impose ourselves on them but we are under no illusions as to how difficult it’s going to be.

“(Plymouth coach) Kevin Nancekivell, who I have known for years, will know all about us and he will have them well prepared.

“They may have lost their last two games but I watched them play Cheltenham and they were very unlucky not to get something against a side who are third in League Two.

“We know what is coming, we have the greatest respect for them but we will be doing our best to put them out.”

Simkin went on to add: “The bottom line is nobody knows what will happen. We can talk about it forever but it’s down to how the boys are on the day.

“We have to be top-notch and they have to be slightly below-par. If that’s the case then who knows?

“I would imagine even our senior players will be a bit nervous but I’m looking to the likes of Mark Jermyn, Ashley Nicholls and Ben Watson to calm the younger ones down and keep them on a level plain so that they can perform.”

Exeter City loanees Jake Gosling and Jamie Reid will be available for the last time before they return to their parent club but fellow youngster Lewis Morgan misses out altogether.

On a more positive note, winger Sam Malsom has recovered from an ankle injury and goalkeeper Alan Walker-Harris returns to the squad for the first time since breaking his leg last March.

The county town chief said: “Lewis is away unfortunately. It’s something we knew about before he signed, it’s just unfortunate for us and him that it has fallen on this day.

“I would be very surprised if Sam is not available for selection. The only problem is that he hasn’t played for a couple of weeks.

“Alan has been training and he deserves his place on the bench. If anything were to happen to Jason Matthews then I would have no concerns putting him on the pitch.”

Tomorrow’s encounter is to be shown live on ESPN – the first time the Magpies have performed live on television – and the club are anticipating their biggest crowd at the Avenue for several years.

The winner of the tie will receive £18,000 in prize money.

Magpies (from): Matthews, Walker-Harris, Jermyn, Smeeton, Martin, Clough, Walker, Pugh, Gleeson, Nicholls, Gosling, Crittenden, Symes, Garcia, Malsom, Reid, Watson, Chiedozie.