MANAGER Peter Jackson has done his homework on Town's Cup foes.

The Galpharm Stadium chief watched Worcester beat Chippenham in their first round replay and he's had scouts at their subsequent games.

The Conference North side have a couple of well-known names in their line-up with ex-League men Graham Hyde and Des Lyttle playing prominent roles.

But they are not without talent in other areas and will fancy their chances of beating a Town team featuring five of the men who suffered first-round defeat to Accrington Stanley in the competition two years ago (Andy Booth, Andy Holdsworth, Jon Worthington, Danny Schofield and Nathan Clarke).

Perhaps the biggest threat Worcester can pose is through centre-back Chris Smith at set-pieces.

He goes upfield for corners and free-kicks and is a determined competitor in the air.

Smith plays on the right of a back three in which Lyttle - formerly of Swansea, Nottingham Forest, Port Vale, West Brom, Watford and Northampton - is the sweeper.

Hyde, who played in the 1993 FA Cup final as a substitute for Sheffield Wednesday against Arsenal, is the midfield anchorman with Nick Colley and Tom Warmer breaking to the right and left respectively.

They offer ready support to a front two of Adam Webster - who has scored in every round so far - and Leon Kelly.

When Worcester hit the rhythm preferred by coach Andy Morrison, wing-backs Rob Warner and Les Hines effectively make up a five-strong midfield.

George Clegg - who came through the ranks at Manchester United alongside Town goalkeeper Paul Rachubka - provides a midfield option in the 3-5-2 formation.

Player-manager Andy Preece, too, is always ready to step off the bench and add his frontline experience from spells at Northampton, Wrexham, Stockport, Crystal Palace, Blackpool, Bury and Carlisle.

There isn't the same pace which once ignited his step, but he did enough with a few deft touches and passes in the last round to make the difference.

Town, in fairness, should have far too much in the tank for a team who play at the same level as Welling, whom they defeated 4-1 in the first round.

The sloping pitch at St George's Lane and its surface which readily cuts up during games - groundstaff from the county cricket club and local grammar school helped with preparation for the Chippenham match - will prove a little bit of a leveller, but again Town's fitness should be a big plus factor.

Worthington and Mark Hudson will relish the battle in the centre.