CAPTAIN Sam Austin is dreaming of making yet more FA Cup memories on Saturday when Kidderminster Harriers welcome Premier League side West Ham to Aggborough for their fourth-round clash.
Austin celebrated his 200th appearance for the club last weekend before Harriers’ 0-0 draw with Gloucester City but leading his team out this weekend will be the pick of the bunch.
"This will be my biggest FA Cup memory," he said.
"I was involved in the game against Blackpool in the first round (2016) but I wasn't really playing.
"So to be in the fourth round is definitely the highlight of my career.
"This will be my sixth season at the club and it will be a really proud moment to lead them out. It's going to be a great feeling."
Harriers reached the fourth-round for the first time in 28 years after upsetting Championship side Reading in round three.
Kiddy, in front of a packed out Aggborough, came from behind to beat The Royals 2-1 with Austin scoring the first of the two in the second-half.
Austin's side have beaten higher-level sides in each of their three rounds prior to this clash with The Hammers and he is hoping the confidence gained will help them in their push for promotion to the National League.
"The cup run has been great and its been a chance to build confidence for a lot of these players," he added.
"And to experience moments that don't come around often but the league is our bread and butter.
"Th FA Cup is a brilliant competition and it will be a great memory for these players but the league is the main thing for us."
Having said that, the chance to play a Premier League side does not come around often and Austin appreciates that it is an opportunity that has to be enjoyed.
"First and foremost, for the players, it's a chance to play against some of the best players in England," Austin continued.
"So the lads are going to be excited and for us there's nothing, they are West Ham so the pressure is on them.
"If we enjoy ourselves and play our football then who knows what can happen."
The game is to be shown live on BBC One at 12.30pm on Saturday when millions of people around the country and even the world will tune in to see whether Kidderminster can create one of the biggest upsets in the competition's long and illustrious history.
You could forgive the players for being a bit overawed by the situation but Austin is convinced that, come game time, focus will be there.
"At the end of the day it's just another game of football," he said.
"And when we are out there we need to concentrate but we have to go out there and enjoy ourselves in front of all those people and show them what we can do.
"From the run we have had, the last three games have been against higher opposition so it's proof we can do it.
"With the fans backing us, let's try and make something happen."
Early indications are that the top-flight visitors will be without star striker Michail Antonio for the trip to Worcestershire due to his international commitments with Jamaica.
But there's every chance England midfielder Declan Rice could be involved and he is the man skipper Austin is most looking forward to coming up against.
"I don't know if he will play or not but it will be great to play against him and try and learn from him.
"When the draw for the fourth-round happened I just wanted a Premier League team, so to get West Ham and have their players come to us, it's brilliant."
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