Crawley boss Francis Vines will use Saturday's FA Cup first round tie against Conference outfit Telford United to gauge the progress of his side.

Reds have their sights set on promotion to the Conference after going top of the Dr Martens premier division last week.

But despite an unbeaten run stretching back 17 games, Vines will reserve judgement on whether they are good enough to compete at a higher level until after the clash at Bucks Head.

He said: "I am pleased we are playing a Conference side as it is a chance to see how far we have come.

"After the match I will be able to measure how far we still have to go to play at that level every week. The game will highlight what and where we need to improve."

Telford could be considered the perfect yardstick considering they are the definition of an average Conference side. They currently lie in mid-table with five wins, five draws and five defeats and needed a replay to beat another Conference side, Tamworth, in the last round.

Yet Vines admits they are still a few notches above Crawley in terms of quality because of the Football League experience in their ranks.

As well as former Manchester City players Fitzroy Simpson and Lee Mills, manager Mick Jones can also call on the services of defender Matt Clarke, goalkeeper Martin Taylor and midfielder Scott Eustace.

After easy wins against lower division opposition Harlow Town, Croydon Athletic and Cirencester Town in previous rounds, Vines is well aware Crawley are in for their toughest test to date but is confident they are capable of making it into the next round.

"I watched their replay against Tamworth and they are definitely beatable if we play to our potential. They have some good players but so do we so it should be a good game of cup football," he said.

Vines has a injury free squad to choose from apart from goalkeeper Andy Little.

Striker Simon Ullathorne is hoping to resurrect his career under his former boss Garry Wilson at Eastbourne Borough.

Wilson paid a four-figure fee for Ullathorne when he was manager of Hastings and the striker is hoping to get another chance to impress his former boss after severing his ties with Horsham.

Ullathorne, who also includes Crawley, Slough and Aldershot among his former clubs, is unlikely to figure tomorrow when in-form Newport County visit Priory Lane, but he could get a run-out when Borough take on St Leonards in the Sussex Senior Cup next Tuesday.

A mystery injury could rule defensive linchpin Darren Baker out for Newport's visit.

Baker has swelling under both his ankles and Wilson is unsure whether he will have recovered in time while Ben Austin is also struggling due to a chronic back injury.

Matt Smart trained this week and should return after missing last Saturday's defeat by Welling while Matt Crabb is expected to have recovered from flu in time.

Tony Burt is battling to be fit to return to the Hastings United defence against Kings Lynn in the eastern division after an insect bite caused his leg to swell to almost twice its normal size.

Mark Green has returned to Gillingham following a loan spell and Steve Graham and Jimmy Elford picked up knocks during Tuesday's defeat at Fleet Town.