Gary Hackett fires FA Cup warning to rivals Stevenage

The Glassboys travel to face the Boro on Saturday in an FA Cup second-round tie just 24 months after being beaten by the League One outfit 3-0 at the same stage of the competition.

But Hackett says no conclusions can be drawn from that game and believes his side are now much improved, as they look to make history by reaching the third round for the first time.

"It is a very different Stevenage side we will be facing but at the same time it's a very different Stourbridge side they will be facing," he said.

"I'd like to think we are a better team than when we played them two years ago, I guess only time will tell.

"We've brought quite a few new faces in but at the same time we've got a core base of players who are still here, have got better and know what to expect – the likes of Drew Canavan, Aaron Drake, Ryan Rowe and Nathan Bennett.

"It's going to be tough but if they catch us on a good day and they are below par we will be very dangerous opponents."

Hackett will assess the fitness of his squad later today but is hopeful of a clean bill of health.

Tickets for the game are still on sale. The Glassboys, the lowest ranked team left in the competition, have already sold more than half their 1,400 allocation.

While the prospect of facing Stevenage may not have been the most attractive of second round ties for Stourbridge, Hackett insists there is no less excitement of the club's recent runs in the competition.

He said: "I don't think the novelty has worn off at all.

"I suppose it was not the most attractive draw we could have had and we've played an awful lot of games since the first round win over Biggleswade.

"But we've already sold around 800 tickets and I'm sure there will be a few more gone in the next day or so.

"If we could take around 1,000 fans there it will be fantastic and make for a really rocking atmosphere."