DORCHESTER Town boss Steve Thompson hopes the Magpies “rise to the occasion” ahead of their FA Trophy second round battle against National League side Barnet at the Hive Stadium tomorrow (3pm).

Thompson has piloted the county town side through four rounds of the competition, beating lower-league Yate and Totton before seeing off National League South teams Hungerford and Eastbourne, the latter a 4-0 thumping.

And Thompson’s men have been rewarded with a trip to FA Cup giant-killers Barnet, the Bees fresh from a 1-0 defeat of Premier League wannabes Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Speaking to Echosport ahead of the clash, Thompson downplayed the importance of the meeting but admitted it would be “lovely” to test his troops against a team placed 47 above them in the football pyramid.

He said: “They’re all massive. It’s the biggest game in terms of who we’re playing. I wouldn’t say it’s the most important game because we probably exceeded expectation in the Trophy.

“It’s always lovely to go and test yourself as players against a team from two leagues higher and a team that are right in the news at the moment as the last non-League team left in the FA Cup.

“It would be incredible to be the last team in the Southern League left in the Trophy but we’ve got a very tough task.”

Thompson would not be drawn on the Magpies’ chances of an upset but did stress his desire to see his players show their true level.

He said: “I wouldn’t make predictions but I just hope we give a really good account of ourselves and I hope the players rise to the occasion and enjoy the atmosphere and enjoy playing in a nice stadium on a lovely pitch, which it normally is.

“I hope they do themselves justice and play to their full potential. If they do play to their full potential and Barnet had a real off day, there could be a surprise, but that’s asking a lot.”

Asked whether Barnet could be jaded from their FA Cup third round heroics, Thompson said: “I’m not sure, I don’t know whether they’ll play the exact same team.

“Sometimes, after a result like that the whole place is buzzing. You could look at it the other way and say ‘is it a terrible time to play them because they’re full of confidence?’”

Harry Kite (ankle) is racing to be fit for the tie, while Ollie Griggs (hip) and Luke Winsper (unavailable) should return.