Oxford United get their Cup campaign under way at home to Hayes & Yeading on Saturday – and must be careful not to under-estimate their Blue Square South opponents.

They don't exactly have a good record against part-time opposition.

With United's financial problems, the competition is very important this season.

And for boss Darren Patterson it will bring back memories of a year ago. His first game as manager was a 3-1 FA Cup win at home to Northwich Victoria.

Hayes & Yeading manager Garry Haylock reckons his team are big underdogs.

"We've got five or six players who wouldn't look out of place in any Blue Square Premier team. But the others would need a big helping hand, to be honest.

"The difference between Conference and Conference South is massive," he claimed. "It's such a big step up for teams that are promoted, as Lewes have found out.

"But if we want to be in the Conference, and that's where we aspire to be, then we need to be able to compete against the likes of Oxford United."

Hayes & Yeading played Aldershot Town in the FA Cup last season. It finished 5-0 to The Shots, but that scoreline greatly flattered Gary Waddock's team, according to Haylock.

"It was even for 40 minutes then they had two chances and took them. Overall the game was even, but they were clinical. We learned from it."

There are two players who were in the Yeading team that lost 2-0 to Newcastle in the FA Cup three years ago – goalkeeper Delroy Preddie and captain Nevin Saroya.

Haylock's men slipped to sixth following their 4-3 defeat at home to struggling Fisher Athletic in midweek.

But they won impressively, 3-1 at Kingstonian, in the last round, and have Football League experience in ex-Watford and Brentford forward Scott Fitzgerald, and midfielder Will Hendry, who played 17 times for Millwall.