Underdogs Peterborough Sports are still daring to dream of more FA Trophy glory and Posh have been helping them prepare for the big game

Remarkably the city side are within three wins from a major non-league final at Wembley, just a decade after winning promotion from Division One of the Peterborough League.

“It’s mad to think we’re that close to Wembley,” Dean said. “It’s like Posh reaching the later stages of the FA Cup.

“We’re obviously not thinking that far ahead as we know we are massive underdogs on Saturday.

“I’d say it’s a 70/30 chance they will beat us, but that’s not to say it’s mission impossible.

“The odds are stacked against us because when Saturday comes it will just be our second game in seven weeks whereas they only stopped playing competitively last weekend.

“Our last game was the last round of the Trophy at Bath (January 16) and we have the same motivation on Saturday. If we lose we probably won’t play another match all season and no-one wants that. Training without playing matches is tedious, but we’ve prepared as well as we can. My chairman Grant Biddle has given us everything we need and we’ve had great support from Posh.

“Oxford play on a 3G surface so Posh have let us train on their artificial surface for the past three weeks, It’s a fantastic facility and I can’t thank them enough.

“We are going to Oxford to give them a game. If things go our way we could cause another upset. This game is not like when we played Chorley of Fylde in the FA Cup. This is more winnable.

“We want to enjoy the day but we want to win.

“My player Dan Lawlor was coached by Oxford manager David Oldfield at Posh and rates him very highly so we know they will be a well-organised side as well as one full of talent.

“I’ve seen a few bits of video from Oxford’s win over Northampton in the FA Cup, but they’re not a lot of use as they sat back a lot in that game which I presume they won’t do against us!”

There’s plenty at stake on Saturday. Sports had never previously travelled beyond the first round of the FA Trophy, while City have never reached the quarter-finals.

Sports defender Matty Miles faces a fitness test, but is expected to be available.

Sports will lean on the skills of their former Football League players tomorrow. Forward Dion Sembie-Ferris has played for Colchester and Jonny Herd turned out for Southend United.

Sports squad: Lewis Moat, Lewis Elsom, Matty Miles, Paul Malone, Richard Jones, Brad McGowan, Dan Jarvis, Jonny Herd, Dan Lawlor, Manice Sani, Jim Stevenson, Mitch Gifftiths, Lewis Hilliard, Dion Sembie-Ferris, Mark Jones, Josh Moreman, Jordan Nicholson, Josh McCammon.

Oxford City are managed by former Posh player/coach/caretaker-manager David Oldfield. Young Posh defender Sam Cartwright is on loan at the National League South side. Cartrwight (20) signed pro forms for Posh in 2019 and started his only two games for the club later that year, both in the EFL Trophy against Arsenal under 21s and Cambridge United.

Sports are 100/1 outsiders of 16 to win the FA Tropy. Oxford City are 25/1.