We can win it, claims Carey

King's Lynn caretaker boss Shaun Carey is urging his men to steal the show in tonight's televised FA Cup second-round clash with Oldham Athletic (8pm).

Lynn's non-league heroes will emerge to a cauldron of noise from the 5,700-capacity Walks crowd and in front of a potential global television audience of millions.

Carey is ruling out stage fright on the biggest night in the club's modern history.

“I'm not nervous and the lads are buzzing,” he said. “If I was sat there worrying about Oldham I'd drive myself mad. They're League One and we are Southern Premier - of course no one expects us to win, apart from the chairman, who expects to win every game.

“All I'm concerned about is going out and performing in a positive frame of mind. I don't want us to get sucked in by everything else that goes with a game like this. It's just 90 minutes. Obviously we're not kidding anyone - we know it's a big night and a chance for the team and individuals to make a name for ourselves.”

Carey has rammed home that simple message during the build-up - play the game and not the occasion.

“Don't let it pass you by,” he said. “I'll be telling the players beforehand what managers used to tell me. With these type of matches you can get to ten or 15 minutes from the end and feel like you haven't been involved. It comes with all the hype and the build-up.

“When the draw was made everyone said we could put the FA Cup on the backburner, but it's come around so quickly. I'm hoping the cameras, the crowd and everything else does not affect our performance.

“If we apply ourselves right and get that little bit of luck you need in a cup match then who knows? There'd be no point turning up if we didn't believe we couldn't win. I feel we can win any game and Oldham is no exception.”

Carey insists Lynn have enough artillery to worry the promotion-chasing Latics.

“We have goalscorers in the side and we won't be sitting back,” he said. “I don't think we can play any other way. Our best plan of defence is attack. We went to Bishop's Stortford in the previous round and I told everyone we weren't going there to shut up shop and pinch a draw.

“It's important we try and get in Oldham's faces early on. We're under no illusions. A side going so well in League One will be full of quality all over the pitch. We had a couple of people watching them and we've gone through the reports. They'll be dangerous in wide areas with Andy Liddell's delivery and we know the young right-back looks to bomb on. Alex Notman's experience will be crucial in that area of the pitch.”

Carey hinted Charlie Defty could be in line to fill the left-back void created by Adam Smith's recent departure to Peterborough.

“There hasn't been any selection headaches,” he said. “I know my team and the subs bench. Some lads will be disappointed and I fully understand where they're coming from - I've been left out of big games and it's not a nice feeling.

“I didn't want to change it around too much for such a big occasion. Charlie is an option at left-back and we've also got Mark Camm. Cammy has been solid for us in the midfield and it'll be important to compete in there because Oldham are strong through the middle of the park.

“To go in without a game for two weeks is probably not ideal. Me personally, I'd like to have a run-out. It just depends on the players. Some may feel the same way but others might've welcomed the rest - it gives them a chance to come in fresh without any niggles.”

Carey is relishing the prospect of locking horns with his Republic of Ireland counterpart John Sheridan in the dug-out.

“I think I played against him a couple of times,” he said. “John was a great passer, one of those who sat in and pulled the strings. He'll have got Oldham playing the way he liked to play - getting the ball on the deck. We're not a kick and lump it team either so it'll be a decent game to watch.

“Hopefully it'll be a good advert for King's Lynn and non-league football. People might have this conception of it being hustle and bustle or kick and rush at our level.

“We have a good footballing side who I want to go out and express themselves. For a club like King's Lynn to reach the second round is unbelievable. No one would've expected us to get this far at the start of the season. I just don't want the lads to freeze - I'm sure we won't.”