Stuart Maynard’s Wealdstone aim to banish their recent FA Trophy hoodoo when they visit high-flying National League South side Chelmsford City at the Melbourne Community Stadium on Saturday.

The Stones will go into the game with confidence after a thrilling 3-3 draw at play-off chasing Bromley and having just lost one of their last six National League games.

But Maynard is cautious the Clarets will be a tough nut to crack after watching their close encounter against Barnet in the FA Cup last month.

“When you play a team lower than you it’s always a banana skin,” said Maynard.

“Cup competitions are always for the underdog, it’s a game we’ll be going into as the favourite, which doesn’t happen very often in the league where we’re usually the underdog and the lads will have to deal with a different type of pressure to be expected to win the game.

“We watched Chelmsford against Barnet in the FA Cup. It went right down to the wire, Barnet scored a goal out of nothing, and Chelmsford were really competitive, Robbie Simpson’s doing a great job there.”

Arguably Wealdstone’s greatest ever day came at Wembley in May 1985 when they won the FA Trophy, and although they haven’t made the final since, Maynard is well aware of the expectation around the club in the competition.

“When you go into the FA Cup, it’s a competition realistically you can’t win due to the level you’re at and the level of the other teams, but in the FA Trophy, we’re in the highest ranked division and we’ve got an opportunity to go as far as we can and try and win the competition," he added.

“Teams that are trying to get promoted might not want to go that far into the competition if their squads aren’t very big, but for us at Wealdstone, it’s a competition we go into and believe we can go as far as we can, and it would be a proud moment if I could lead us out at Wembley.”

The Stones manager hopes to right the wrongs of last season’s FA Trophy disappointment, when his side were dumped out by step three side Needham Market.

“Cups are one of those things you need luck in, and I don’t feel I’ve had that luck in recent years or at Wealdstone," he said.

"It’s something we’re hoping to turn around, but it’s going to be a tough game. They’re fourth in the league and in good form, so it’s going to be a really tough test. It’s a competition we want to go far in and hopefully we can get that win, one way or another."