Leyton Orient face Harborough Town in FA Cup first round tie

Leyton Orient turn their focus to the FA Cup this weekend with a first-round tie against Harborough Town at Brisbane Road. The match kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, offering a break from League One action.

Richie Wellens's side head into the cup contest on the back of a convincing 3-0 home victory over Cambridge United last weekend. Rarmani Edmonds-Green, Jaze Kabia and Aaron Connolly were all on the scoresheet in that league fixture. That result snapped a run of two consecutive away defeats and leaves the O's 14th in the table with 17 points from 13 games. Their recent form reads two wins, one draw and two losses from their last five outings.

Team news and context

The starting line-up from the Cambridge win is likely to provide a strong indication of Wellens's thinking for the cup. That side featured Baxter in goal, with a back four of Stevens, Edmonds-Green, Gilchrist and Somto Boniface. El Mizouni and Gilbert anchored the midfield, supporting a front four of Connolly, Ollie O'Neill, Dobra and Kabia.

Kabia, the club's top scorer this season with four goals, will be a key threat. Orient's league position, 11 points off the top, allows them to approach the cup with ambition. The full fixtures schedule shows a trip to Doncaster Rovers in League One follows next weekend.

Harborough Town, who play in the Northern Premier League Division One Midlands, represent a classic cup challenge. Leyton Orient will be expected to progress but must guard against complacency in a competition famous for upsets. The club's immediate priority after Saturday will shift back to the league and that visit to 20th-placed Doncaster on 14 November.