RIVAL bosses George Wakeling and John Maggs know all about Horsham heartache in the FA Cup.

The veteran managers go head-to-head at the Pilot Field tomorrow as Hastings tackle their county rivals in a third qualifying round showdown at the Pilot Field.

And, if omens from previous years are anything to go by, the Ryman League side should not have a prayer.

Hastings boss Wakeling was a member of the squad for a 3-0 home defeat by Swindon in the first round proper 33 years ago, played out before a record 6,000 crowd at Queen Street.

His Horsham counterpart Maggs also has 'previous'.

Nine years ago, as Crawley Town chairman, he was one of the villains of the piece as Reds masterminded a 3-0 fourth qualifying round win over their Horsham neighbours in a rain-soaked replay at Town Mead.

Throw in a couple of Hastings wins in Senior Cup meetings in recent years and you have the situation Maggs relishes - that of the underdog.

He said: "There is no question Hastings are favourites. I saw them win 5-1 in the week and they were very impressive in the second half.

"But we are looking forward to it. We have won our last two games 5-1 and 4-0 and we've got a 100 percent record in Saturday matches this season."

Hornets are likely to be unchanged from last week's league win at Wembley with high-scoring duo Steve Flain and Gavin Geddes fronting their 4-4-2 line-up.

Hastings will be without Paul Ruddy (ankle), Steve Yates (knee) and Aston Villa trialist Duncan MacArthur (groin).

Wakeling still recalls the disappointment of being left out of the Horsham XI which put up a spirited display before losing to Don Rogers' Swindon back in 1967.

He said: "I had played the first 12 games and the manager called me in and two others in and dropped us. I was a young lad and disappointed at the time. A lot of water has gone under the bridge since then, so I'm not bitter.

"It will be nice to see John Maggs again. I used to play against him when he was in goal for Crawley."