Folkestone will need to go the extra mile - quite literally - as they aim to progress in the FA Cup.

Only Welsh outfit Merthyr Town, of the Southern League Premier Division South, stand in Invicta’s way of a place in the First Round and a potential encounter with a Football League club.

Folkestone travel to Merthyr, a massive 480-mile round trip, this Saturday in the Fourth Qualifying Round.

Long-serving Invicta boss Neil Cugley has visited Merthyr previously amid his long reign, losing 1-0 in the 2001/02 season - although that defeat came against Merthyr Tydfil, the club liquidating in 2010 before it reformed as Merthyr Town.

It’s meant extra work off the pitch for Folkestone but Cugley cannot wait.

“It’s a massive game, we are sorting out all the arrangements as well,” said Cugley.

“We are not used to it any more - nowadays, we don’t really use coaches. It will be a long day but that’s what the FA Cup is all about.

• Folkestone goalkeeper makes team-of-the-week

“It’s a brilliant competition. It made us a lot of money last year and it’s doing so again this year. We got a good gate at Dulwich in the previous round which helps as well.

“There’s only two in our league left in it, ourselves and Hornchurch. We will give it everything we can.

“I have been a manager at Merthyr before. It’s a bit different for us but it’s the luck of the draw, we have had two at home and two away.

“And we can always bring them back for a midweek replay.”

Invicta have left-back Nathan Green available after a ban, Guyana international Kadell Daniel could return from a hamstring problem and captain Callum Davies’ fitness is improving as he recovers from a hip issue.

On midfielder Daniel, Cugley noted: “He was doing well so it was a bit of a shame when he got injured.

“Hopefully he will be ready to go. He can be a really important player for us.”

The winner of the tie will pocket £9,375.

Invicta come into the game having progressed on penalties in the FA Trophy against Isthmian South East Whitehawk last weekend after a 1-1 draw. Ibrahim Olutade scored, although fellow frontman Ade Yusuff missed a golden chance to put the tie to bed from the penalty spot.

Cugley said: “It was a bit like some games this year where we should have won it comfortably but we didn’t.

“We played all right, to be fair, we just couldn’t get the second goal and missed a penalty. The last few minutes, we didn’t hold the ball well enough. Where the referee got all those minutes from, I don’t know!

“But to be fair to the goalkeeper, he made some good saves. They’re not a bad team, their record is good.

“We got through but we’re still not quite where we want to be.”

Goalkeeper Bailey Vose saved two penalties in the shoot-out, which Invicta won 4-3.

Folkestone’s reward for their FA Trophy triumph over Whitehawk is a home draw against Isthmian Premier rivals Horsham in the First Round on October 29.

Academy midfielder Jake Dancer made his debut off the bench last Tuesday in a 3-0 league defeat at Bishop’s Stortford.

Cugley said: “He’s only a young lad. He will train with the first-team this week and may be in the squad to go to Wales. He will soon find out if he really wants to be a non-league footballer then!

“But we are not going to rush him. It’s still a massive jump, no disrespect to the level the academy plays at but, if we can get him a few minutes, that will do him no harm at all.

“You don’t get many holding midfield players like him but the Academy are in every day and that helps.”

Folkestone are due to visit Corinthian-Casuals on Tuesday.