West Auckland manager Gary Forrest wants his players to show plenty of courage and mettle when they go to Sunderland RCA in the fourth round of the Buildbase FA Vase today.

West are missing eight players for the match against their Northern League rivals, but Forrest wants his players to shrug off their absences and rise to the occasion.

Nathan Fisher, Anthony Bell, Steven Snaith, Lewis Dodds, Ross Colquhoun and Dan Parker are six regulars on the injury list, and Forrest said; “I want our players to step up to the plate and see if we can find a way through to the next round.

“It’s not easy to overcome the loss of eight players, three of whom play in centre midfield. We’ll probably have to play somebody out of position in there.

“Arguably, we’re without the best centre forward, best wide player and best centre midfield players in the league, so we’ll have to cobble a team together and see if we can win.

“We know what RCA are capable of from our games against them earlier in the season. We know exactly how they’ll play, but it’s a matter of us finding a way of countering them.

“Our players must show plenty of courage and mettle, and hope that we have a little bit of luck to go with them.”

The sides have met twice already this season, with RCA coming out on top twice – in the league by 2-1 at Darlington Road, and in the County Cup by 3-1 at RCA.

In the other Vase ties, Hebburn Town, who have never played at this stage of the competition before, are at home to Shepshed Dynamo.

Newcastle Benfield, who are enjoying a resurgence under manager Tom Wade, face Northwich Victoria.