ANDY Porter admits that the FA Trophy progression is “very high” on Braintree Town’s list of priorities this season.

The Iron are due to take a break from Vanarama National League South action on Saturday to have their first outing in this year’s FA Trophy with a third qualifying round tie at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium (kick-off 3pm).

Iron’s opponents will be Cray Wanderers after they beat Moneyfields 4-1 in their second qualifying round replay on Wednesday.

Their opponents play in Bostik League division south - two levels below the Iron - but assistant manager Porter insists that it is a tie that Braintree will take very seriously.

Following a disappointing exit in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup at Brackley, it is another chance for the Iron to make strides forward in a national knockout competition.

Porter said it would be nice to put the memory of that defeat at Brackley behind them, but, with £5,000 up for grabs for third qualifying round winners, he is also aware of the financial implications of success in competitions like the Trophy.

“It’s very high on our priority,” said the Iron’s assistant boss.

“Just due to the income and prize money you can get; it would help out a lot, so it’s important for us.

“We’ll be going at it 100 per cent and will field our strongest side.

“The way the FA Cup ended for us was very disappointing and there’s a feeling that we want to set the record straight.

“Being knocked out 4-1 was a bit of a battering really and we want to put that right and get progress in the FA Trophy.”

Braintree will have captain Marc-Anthony Okoye available for the Trophy tie, but he is set to miss the Iron’s next game after that after picking up a fifth booking of the season in the 1-1 league draw with Truro City on Tuesday.

Porter added: “The booking he got against Truro was his fifth so he will miss a game now.

“It won’t be the next one and it will be the replay if Saturday ends in a draw, but otherwise it will be the trip to Wealdstone in the league that he’ll miss.

“We will have him at the weekend, though.”

However, Porter felt the game would come too soon for injured duo Luke Allen and Jon Muleba, who have ankle and knee problems respectively.

“The swelling is still there on Luke’s ankle, but he should only be one or two weeks away,” said Porter.

“Luckily he’s one of those guys who doesn’t lose his fitness so it shouldn’t take too long to get him back in.

“It was an impact injury and we want to get him back as we have missed him in the middle, especially on Saturday, but he should be back in a couple of weeks.

“And Jon (Muleba) is another who we’re waiting on.

“We haven’t had the results back yet from the scan on his knee so we’re waiting on that.

“We want to have him back as soon as possible, but it may be a little bit longer with Jon.”