NON-LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Great Wakering Rovers manager Dan Trenkel admits he is facing a defensive crisis against AFC Sudbury this weekend after two of his backline confirmed they would miss the game...as they would be watching Chelsea play Bradford City in the FA Cup instead.

Stuart Hepburn and Max Kent will not travel with the rest of the Rovers squad to Suffolk tomorrow as they will be watching the FA Cup encounter, where Canvey Island-born and Bradford star Billy Knott is set to face his former club.

And Trenkel admits he is now looking to secure a centre-back on an emergency loan for the Ryman One North clash against the fifth-placed side, with Nick Skelton injured and new signing Leon Smith suspended.

“It is disappointing,” he said. “It means I am looking likely to step in at centre back for Saturday’s game unless I can get an emergency loan deal for a central defender from Welling United, which is possible but has not been confirmed.”

Rovers were crushed 5-1 the last time the teams met but Trenkel says he is confident of a different result when the sides meet tomorrow, in what will be Sudbury boss Jamie Godbold’s first home match in charge.

Trenkel said: “Going to Sudbury at any time is hard. They have a new manager who will be in charge at home for the first time and that can work both ways. I’ve no doubt the players will want to impress him but you never know it may make some of them nervous.

“We’ve got nothing to be frightened of going there and we believe that we can get something out of the game,” he added.

“We will have to keep a close eye on their attacking players but the longer we can keep ourselves in the game the more restless the home fans will get which adds pressure to their players.”

Billy Radley will also miss out, having been sent off against Thurrock in Rovers’ last game, although John-Joe Slater could make his debut.

In the Conference South, Danny Cowley has backed Concord Rangers to rediscover their league form against Whitehawk.

The Beach Boys slumped to one of their most disappointing performances of the season against St Albans City last weekend.

But, following their penalty shootout win at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday, Cowley says the disappointment of the St Albans match is behind them as they prepare for the third-placed Hawks.

“It is a massive game for us,” he said. “We let ourselves down last weekend and we need to find the required performance levels against Whitehawk.

“But we know they are a good footballing side with good resources and it will be hard for us.”

Billericay Town host Witham Town in an Essex derby in the Ryman Premier League.

The home side won 3-2 in a thrilling match earlier in the season.

And Billericay manager Craig Edwards is looking for three more points that would lift them to eighth, following their 2-0 win over Leatherhead last weekend.

Witham need the points to drag themselves away from the relegation zone.