Canvey Island will give late fitness tests to midfielders Jeff Minton and Ty Gooden before finalising their line-up for tomorrow's FA Trophy third round home tie with side Farnborough Town.

Minton has missed two matches with a hamstring problem, while Gooden was forced off with a groin strain during last Saturday's league success at Braintree.

But wing-back Chris Duffy is fit to return after missing the Braintree game with a calf injury.

Gulls' boss Jeff King, back from a festive break in Dubai, admits that the Trophy has a special place in the club's heart after they won the competition three years ago.

But he insists nothing will be allowed to stand in the way of their ambition of winning the Ryman Premier title and obtaining the much coveted Conference spot after three years as runners-up.

"In fact," he admitted, "I'd sooner be playing a league match tomorrow. We've got a great unbeaten run of 18 games going in the Premier and we want to keep that going as long as possible."

For more on Ryman Premier League sides see our Ryman Premier League section

Published Friday January 9, 2004

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