HAYES & Yeading welcome back Jamie Hand into the midfield engine room, but they could face problems at the back for the trip to Stonebridge Road.
The experienced Hand (pictured) returns on Saturday after being suspended for the midweek victory over Eastbourne Borough and that is particularly timely with Bradley Pritchard banned for one match after his sending off.
Young centre-back Charlie Wassmer suffered a nasty facial injury during that much-needed victory and is a doubt for the first round tie and boss Garry Haylock will therefore be hoping that Adam Bygrave will have shaken off injury in time to return at the heart of defence.
Hayes & Yeading will face a tough test against an Ebbsfleet side that are in play-off contention in Blue Square South after relegation last season and they came so close to knocking out Conference leaders AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup.
They will also have one player among their ranks who will be determined to prove a point with ex-Hayes & Yeading ace Ram Marwa having left Church Road in the summer.
After being shown the door by Hayes & Yeading, Marwa launched a stinging attack on boss Garry Haylock and the club and the 30-year-old admitted this week that his departure still hurts.
"I was surprised," he told the Kent News. "I'd been there for two-and-a-half-years and it had probably been one of their most successful seasons. We stayed up as a part-time team and I scored goals near the end of the season to earn some vital points, which stopped teams catching us.
"The manager (Liam Daish) is very good with his training, he keeps us all fit, but it was different at Hayes, a bit more relaxed. There's more structure here, we all know our jobs and the manager has seen something in me. I'm normally an attacking midfielder, but he's played me defensive and I'm absolutely loving it, I wished I'd always played there."
Ironically, Marwa will do battle with a former Ebbsfleet favourite in the midfield engine room with Hayes & Yeading captain Peter Holmes having skippered the Kent side last season.
Hayes & Yeading defender Adam Green says it would be dangerous to underestimate Saturday's opponents.
"They got relegated last season and had some financial problems, but it will be a tricky encounter as they have a good squad. They were a conference team for quite a while, they are doing well in the Conference South, but we will be looking to go there and win the game.
"It’s a great competition, it would be good for the club to go on a good little run and go all the way. We will take it as serious as we would any other league game and we cannot underestimate them."
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