LINCOLN UNITED host Boston Town in a mouth-watering derby tomorrow in the Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.

The two sides have both had mixed starts to their league campaigns.

The Poachers have won, lost and drawn in the United Counties League Premier Division and defeated Gedling Town to set-up tomorrow's clash at Ashby Avenue (3pm).

John Wilkinson's Whites began the season poorly with a 3-0 defeat on the opening day of the season at Carlton Town but an impressive 2-0 win in midweek at home to Stamford has lifted confidence at Ashby Avenue.

Wilkinson is looking to use the boost in morale from Tuesday's victory to avoid what he calls a "cup upset", having labelled his team favourites.

"I was very encouraged by our performance against Stamford on Tuesday, it was nice to see us play well after such a bad performance against Carlton," said Wilkinson.

"Having that victory under our belts should make things easier for us tomorrow, we can draw confidence from the win and go into the weekend more upbeat.

"We play in the division above them (Boston Town), so we must be favourites for the match. Therefore, we'll want to avoid being on the end of a cup upset."

The Lincolnshire rivals cancelled their arranged pre-season friendly following the draw for the FA Cup, with both wishing to avoid meeting on the pitch ahead of this weekend's clash.

The proximity of the two clubs coupled with the dramatic arena of knockout football has left anticipation for the game at fever pitch.

And Whites boss Wilkinson is hopeful that United supporters turn out in force to cheer on his team, as they take on a side which includes former United players.

"Being a cup game obviously adds more to the local interest that there is in the match. A few of their lads used to play for us too, so that's another interesting aspect to the tie," said the former Grantham Town manager.

"I'm hopeful we get a decent crowd in with it being a cup game against local rivals, but Lincoln (City) are playing so that may affect our attendance."

Lincoln United famously reached the Fourth Round Qualifying last year before losing to Blue Square Bet Premier team Cambridge United.

However, Wilkinson has admitted that last season's league form suffered because of their cup exploits, and consequently would concede tomorrow's match if it guaranteed a play-off spot in the league in May.

"We struggled in the league last season because of how far we went in the cup. This season, though, the league is my priority," he said.

"And although we'll be trying to win, if it meant we were guaranteed a play-off place in the league at the end of the season, then Boston can have Saturday's game."

Boston Town manager Martyn Lakin, meanwhile, admitted to being "greedy", setting sights on success in both league and cup this season.

"I'm a little bit greedy and would like to do well in both (league and cup) if we can," he said.

"As a club, we are judged at the end of the season on our final league position, but the chairman knows what we're aiming for here and hasn't applied any pressure to our league performances.

"But we're also fully aware of the financial benefits that are available to a club our size if we do well in the FA Cup.

"It provides a great platform for raising the profile of our club, which we need with all the success Boston United are having."

The former Bourne Town manager was in agreement with his opposite number and has made tomorrow's hosts firm favourites for the tie.

But Lakin insists his players must seize their opportunity on a platform which can boost their aspirations to play at a higher level.

"You look at their players and you have to make them favourites," he said. "They have lads that have played at a higher level, Matt O'Halloran and Terry Fleming are very experienced footballers.

"But we have a reasonably young set of players who have aspirations to play at a higher level in football, and this competition gives them that chance to raise their profile and show what they can do against better opposition."

WHITES: Turner, Green, Stokes, Wilkins, Porter, George, Fleming, Wright, Freeman, Milinkovic, McDaid, O'Halloran, Melton, Smith, Zeurner, Boyce, Coupland, Funnell, Wilkinson, Mullarkey.

POACHERS: Doughty, Baker, Hocking, Jackson, Lambley, Stainfield, Thompson, Brooks, Carr, Foster, Goodhand, Pascu, Schiavi, Beck, Bull, Nimmo, Orrey, Pinner.