Hereford United will be looking to leave their poor League form behind them when they face Dagenham & Redbridge in an FA Cup first-round tie at Edgar Street.

The Bulls are currently propping up League One, while their opponents are on the fringe of the promotion race in the division below.

And to make matters worse for Hereford, they must go into the tie without the services of on-loan former France international defender Bruno N'Gotty, who has returned to Leicester City after suffering a potentially career-ending rupture of his Achilles tendon at Peterborough last weekend.

However, Bulls coach John Trewick believes that Dean Beckwith is more than capable of stepping into the breach.

"Dean went into the side at Peterborough and performed quite well," he said. "And on Saturday, if he goes in and stakes his claim, then it's a case of one door closes for one but another opens for someone else."

Trewick welcomed the break from the scramble for league points.

"At this stage, it is probably a good thing to get away from the league for a weekend," he added.

"Dagenham are going to be a difficult side to play against, I have no doubt.

"We hear they are quite direct, with a couple of strikers who work their socks off and a couple of wide players who have a bit of pace.

"They are a side who will work for 90 minutes."

Trewick and boss Graham Turner have to decide who is best equipped to end the Bulls' goal famine.

United have scored only twice in their last 10 league games, and one of those was a penalty from Nick Chadwick.

Moses Ashikodi is still sidelined with a hamstring injury but on-loan Andy Williams, who has been given permission to turn out by parent club Bristol Rovers, may earn a recall to the starting line-up.

But, whoever is selected, Trewick takes a realistic view that Hereford face a difficult task.

"Dagenham have had a good start to the season and were in the top two in their division for quite a number of weeks, so we are expecting a tough game," he said.

Hereford (from): Randolph, Samson, Rose, Beckwith, Broadhurst, Taylor, Williams, Smith, Diagouraga, Easton, Guinan, Hudson-Odoi, Gwynne, Jackson, Chadwick, Done, O'Leary, Johnson.