MANAGER Les Jones has urged his players to be “positive” as Malvern Town bid to upset the odds in the FA Vase by stunning Worksop Town in the first round on Saturday (3pm).

A large crowd is expected at the HDanywhere Community Stadium for what Jones described as one of the biggest games in his tenure at the club.

Worksop are a level higher than Malvern in the football pyramid, playing in the North Counties East Premier Division, and are “big favourites”, according to Jones, to progress.

However, the Malvern boss believes his side, who came from behind to beat Birstall United in the last round, are more than capable of going toe-to-toe with their higher-ranked opponents.

“Worksop are a really big club in this competition with an average gate of 400 as they have had their financial problems and dropped down the leagues,” Jones said.

“They are big favourites but it’s a cup game and anything can happen.

“We are an attacking team, so we need to go out there and be really positive.

“We went away to Birstall and got a draw, then we came back here and beat them in a tremendous game.

“So we need to show that same spirit and perform to our best.”

Jones is hoping Malvern’s supporters will make their voices heard in what could be a historic afternoon for the West Midlands League Premier Division outfit.

“We get good crowds but hopefully it will be even bigger as I would imagine Worksop will be bring quite a few,” he said.

“Someone was telling me we have not reached the first round proper of the FA Vase since the 1980s, so it is a big game for us and all the lads are excited.

“We won the final of the Worcestershire FA Senior Urn (in 2015) but this is the biggest game in a national competition since I have been at the club.”

Jones, who has doubts over the fitness of defender Aaron Richards (knee), added: “It would be a tremendous scalp for us as Worksop are one of the oldest teams in Britain.

“All the odds are stacked against us but that’s how we like it at Malvern.”