DOVER Athletic's experienced skipper Andy Arnott says Saturday's FA Cup first round tie with Oxford United is one of the biggest games of his career - and he thinks his team can come out on top.

Arnott played more than 200 Football League games for Gillingham, Leyton Orient, Fulham, Brighton and Colchester in a ten-year professional career.

But he insists: “The build-up to this game beats any other cup tie I’ve been involved in. There’s a buzz around the club and the town and the lads are buzzing. It’s unbelievable. I gave up playing full time a year ago, and now I’m captain at Dover for this game.”

Arnott feared injury had ended his career, and he sees the Oxford game as a real bonus.

He has been troubled by a calf strain in recent weeks but looks certain to be in Whites’ line-up on for Saturday.

Arnott is confident Whites can cause an upset, saying: “No-one will want to come to Crabble and play us when they look at the league table and see where we are.”

Defender Nicky Humphrey will meanwhile be rooting for his team-mates from the sidelines after suffering a serious injury a fortnight ago against Tamworth. Humphrey fell awkwardly after challenging for a high ball and broke his ankle and fibia.

Dover officials are hoping that Saturday's gate will be a club record for Crabble, beating the figure of 4,035 for the Southern League championship decider against Bromsgrove in 1992.

Even if Whites fail to cause an upset against their Third Division opponents, the cup run will have brought in around £60,000, plus plenty of positive publicity for the club.

Clive Walker's side have only lost five times in 23 matches this season and are third in the Dr Martens League Premier Division, but the manager said: "We will have to play very well to have any chance against Oxford. If we don't we'll be chasing leather."

The good news for Whites fans is that Dover should be near to full strength, with only Nicky Humphrey definitely out and Darren Davies doubtful.