Lakeland says having the right mindset is key to Shaymen avoiding FA Trophy upset on Saturday

The visitors are fourth in the Northern Premier League Midlands Division, three levels below the National League, and knocked out Hartlepool United in the last round.

Halifax swept aside lower league opposition in the last round of the competition, thrashing FC United 4-0, but Lakeland is under no illusions about expecting another routine win this weekend.

"Just being professional, approaching the game with the right mentality and mindset and respecting the opposition the same as we would do everybody else," Lakeland said when asked how Town can go about avoiding an upset.

"And just trying to be the best version of ourselves.

"It's really important we approach the game as we would any other game because it's a competition we want to do well in and to do well, you've got to sometimes beat teams from lower down the pyramid, as we did with FC United.

"Although Anstey are lower down the pyramid than they are, they've knocked out Hartlepool United at Hartlepool, so it's a game we will not be underestimating and we will need to play well in to win."

The FA Trophy is one of three competitions Town are still involved in, but the Halifax squad is now looking stronger due to injuries starting to clear up.

"We've worked hard in the first-half of the season to ensure that when we get into the start of January that we're competing on as many fronts as possible, and that's because we want to try and be as strong and as competitive as we can be in the league but also go as far as we possibly can in the National League Cup and the FA Trophy," Lakeland said.

"So we're obviously still competing on all three fronts, which is great, and we want that to continue, so we'll be going as strong as we possibly can in every game now.

"Of course, there's naturally times where you've got to rotate a bit or make tactical adjustments, or freshen the team up, but we're in a much stronger position than we maybe were a couple of months ago I feel, in terms of the depth, the quality of the depth we've got available at present.

"So whatever team we field will be a strong team."

Midfielder Josh Hmami went off in the first-half of Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Forest Green Rovers, but is expected to be available this weekend.

"He's fine, just a loading issue," Lakeland confirmed.

"He just had a bit of discomfort but there's nothing untoward going on, it's just purely volume of games and load.

"He's virtually played every game for us.

"He'll be fine, he just needs deloading this week, as do a lot of the players in fairness, because the period we've just come out of has been incredibly intense with some very difficult games and the lads have been leaving everything out there on the pitch."

On winger Max Wright's chances of being available on Saturday, Lakeland said: "We'll have to see how he is.

"He's certainly got a chance, that's for sure.

"He's passed most tests to be available for selection but we just need him to tick one or two other boxes, and hopefully he'll do that and be available for us again."

Defender Dylan Crowe and forward Jamie Cooke are both still a few weeks away from returning to fitness.