Horndean ‘are underdogs’ for FA Cup trip to lower division Bemerton Heath Harlequins

That's despite the Wessex League Division One outfit playing a division below the Deans.

Birmingham's men have been drawn away to the Salisbury-based in an extra-preliminary round tie on Tuesday.

Horndean are the higher-placed team in the pyramid, but that will count for little when the sides meet.

Bemerton boast a squad full of experience, with Gosport's all-time leading scorer Justin Bennett within their ranks.

Bennett struck 47 league and cup goals in only 33 appearances for Heath in 2019/20.

They are also managed by Ian Saunders, who led Petersfield Town to the Wessex League Premier Division title in 2014/15.

Saunders has this summer signed centre half Jack Smith, who was a regular for AFC Totton in the Southern League last season.

Defender Jack Vallis, who has played for Salisbury and Totton in the Southern League, has also arrived alongside former Salisbury colleague Danny Young.

Another new signing is winger Greg Peel, who was at Horndean last season. He left Five Heads Park after rejoining the Army and being posted near Salisbury.

Ex-Moneyfields defender Sean Wain - who helped Saunders win the Wessex title at Petersfield - could also face Horndean.

Bemerton were enjoying a great unbeaten run as they attempted to chase down US Portsmouth and claim the Wessex Division 1 title last term before lockdown arrived.

'It’s going to be a tough game,' declared Birmingham.

‘They’ve got an unbelievable squad, full of experience and an unbelievable budget as well.

‘They’ve got a manager in Ian Saunders who’s won the Wessex Prem.

‘It’s not an easy tie.

‘We’re going down there as underdogs and that’s not very often heard of.

'They were flying at the end of last season - I think they went on about a 10-game unbeaten run ready to kick on and try to catch United Services.

'They’ve made some good signings, they got Greg Peel from us who’s a great lad.

'They’ve got the likes of Justin Bennett who’s scored goals wherever he’s gone.

‘He’s a fantastic centre-forward. Even though his legs are starting to go, he’s still a threat.

‘If you look at Justin’s CV it’s one of the most impressive around.

It is vital that we switch on from the start. We will need to be energetic from the beginning

'With the experience they have in their side they will know how to manage games.

We know they will be a big powerful team and we have to stay fully focused.'

Birmingham has had to re-organise areas of his team after losing key players.

Fuzz Kanjanda has moved up a level to play at Chichester City whilst his brother Tee is starting a course at Brighton University.

Ex-Pompey midfielder Jack Maloney is another familiar face missing as he has landed a teaching job in London.

Birmingham has brought in Baffins pair Tommy Tierney and Robbie Taw along with Sam Doswell and Steve Hall from Alresford Town.

Former Gosport Borough player Jamie Clark has returned from a stint in America, ex-AFC Portchester defender Liam Bush has joined and former Southampton midfielder Jake Thomson is another new face.

'This has been the hardest pre-season I can remember because of the virus,' said Birmingham.

'The players had no football for 130 days so we had to break them back in carefully.

'I have changed the shape because the one we started out with wasn't working.

'Saying that, we have done okay and I was particularly pleased with our performance against Havant in our last game, it was very encouraging.’

The Deans have certainly had a tough pre-season, with home games against Bognor and Gosport Borough as well as the Hawks.

Returning to the Bemerton tie, Birmingham added: ‘The FA Cup is still the competition that clubs at grassroots level get excited about.

'It is a shame that we have to go straight into it.

'I would liked to have got one or two league games under our belt first.'