Tim Flowers' debut in the FA Trophy

Stafford Rangers manager Tim Flowers insists he is looking forward to a 440-mile round trip for his first-ever involvement in the FA Trophy.

Flowers is a part of non-league's FA Cup tomorrow for the first time in his career as boss of Rangers, with a long trip to Blyth Spartans in the third qualifying round of the competition.

It's an all-Blue Square North tie at play-off chasing Blyth and one of the hardest tasks Flowers' men could have faced at the first hurdle.

Rangers haven't been a part of the first round since 2007, when they were still in non-league's top flight, and must overcome their fancied hosts at Croft Park to change that.

Flowers will have to do without Jermaine Johnson and Darren Wrack, who are suspended, but should be able to call upon Mark Dudley and Tyree Clarke after knee and groin injuries respectively.

And the manager insists that Rangers should relish the task ahead of them - along with everything that comes with it.

He said: "It's a tough game but one I am very much looking forward to, they are a good side - I have had them watched - and we have got to be up for the fight.

"I am looking forward to the journey and I hope it's wet and windy, I hope everything is against us, because then it will be interesting to see what we have got.

"I couldn't give a monkeys about sitting on a bus, I have done it all of my life, but I am not travelling up there for four-and-a-half years to have my tummy tickled, get a bag of chips and then come home.

"My players had better turn up and I will be expecting us to make a fist of it."

Rangers are desperate for a cup run after tumbling out at the first time of asking in both FA competitions in each of the last two seasons, a severe financial hit for the coffers at Marston Road.

Winning tomorrow's tie is worth £4,000 to the club and Flowers insists his side are not going to Croft Park in the mindset of doing anything less.

He said: "Whatever competition you are involved in, be in to win it, I can never understand - even at the highest level - why anybody would chuck the chance of a cup away.

"It's a money spinner that could be massively helpful to the club but we probably couldn't have been handed a harder draw.

"However, if you don't fancy going up there and putting yourself on the line, you shouldn't be in the game."