FELIXSTOWE & Walton United manager Kev O’Donnell will be sending out a side to defeat Ipswich Town in the John Banks Suffolk Premier Cup tonight.

O’Donnell, who has lifted his side to seventh from the foot of the Thurlow Nunn League Premier Division table after being rock-bottom when he took over in late October, said that some members of his squad will be disappointed when he names his starting line-up.

He said: “It is a massive night for the club and a lot of preparations have been going on behind the scenes to get things ready and hopefully there will be a good turn out and it will be a good pay-day for us.

“It is a welcome break from the league as we have played a lot of games on the bounce and our focus has been on not getting relegated.

“We are now looking at the teams above us and not below us, so it will be nice to go into the game and not be concerned about dropping three points – the players will be able to go out and enjoy it.

“I have a squad of 18 players, but there will be disappointments as they can’t all play, but I will be sending out a team not just to play Ipswich Town but to try to beat Ipswich Town.”

O’Donnell is eager to maintain the success he has tasted in county cup competitions in recent seasons.

He said: “I have always liked the Suffolk Premier Cup. When I was at Needham Market we got to four finals at Portman Road. Then when I joined Thetford Town we got to the final of the Norfolk Senior Cup last season at Carrow Road and I want to keep that success going.

“We have seen in the FA Cup over the weekend that the underdogs can win and we play better when we are the underdogs as we show in beating both Wisbech Town and Brantham Athletic.”

The Seasiders will be without three of those 18 players – Danny Smy, who recently re-joined the club from Leiston, fellow striker Ash Veitch, who has been ill recently, and midfielder Darius Laws, who is on his way back from injury.

O’Donnell admitted: “Losing Danny Smy, who is cup-tied after playing for Leiston against Haverhill Rovers in the last round, is a big blow for us, but I have got other players who can come in.”

The Town side will be much-changed from that which won 5-1 in the last round at Walsham-le-Willows, who coincidentally beat Felixstowe & Walton United 1-0 in the league on Saturday.

Coach Mark Kennedy will be in charge of the Town side that will include goalkeeper Arran Lee-Barrett and midfielder Josh Carson while recent signing Tyrone Mings, the versatile 19-year-old defender signed from non-league Chippenham Town, is set to make his debut. The side is expected to include several Academy scholars.

Felixstowe & Walton Utd squad: D Crump, L Pemberton, J Hewitt, D Davis, A Sheppard, A Crump, N Szyszlyk, B Cranfield, J Cole, R Garrett, M Buckle, T Deller, J Matthews, Z Young, J Walden.