Nikki Bull admits he may be forced to play in the game he has described as Margate's biggest of the season so far.

The Blues host Biggleswade Town in the FA Cup second qualifying round on Saturday and regular keeper Lewis Ward is a real doubt.

The 19-year-old, on loan from Reading, hurt his quad in Tuesday's 2-0 home league defeat to Dartford, and if he doesn't come through then Bull will have little option but to start.

The Gate boss explained: "Lewis came in on Tuesday night with a quad problem and he's struggling kicking so I'd have to say he's extremely doubtful going on what he's told me.

"That would really only leave me because we'd struggle to get a loan in. A lot of clubs are reluctant to let players play in the FA Cup, especially short-term loans."

Keeper Ward isn't Bull's only injury concern ahead of the Biggleswade tie. Winger Alex Osborn - who also sustained a quad injury against Dartford - and midfielder Scott Donnelly (knee) are both almost certainly out while winger Matthias Fanimo and midfielder Lewis Taylor remain sidelined due to Achilles problems.

Defender Aaron Tumwa is still troubled by a hamstring issue and the Gate boss also thinks it unlikely Maidstone will allow on-loan winger Vas Karagiannis to play.

He added: "Come Saturday I'll just have to have a head count and re-group but there are some boys I can rule out now.

"You saw Mitchell Laing came on for the last 10 minutes against Dartford and it might be the case that we have to register a couple more of the young boys."

Bull is in no doubt about the value of Saturday's cup tie to Margate and not just because of the £4,500 available for the winners.

He added: “It’s the biggest game of the season by a mile and it’s probably the first time since I’ve been at the club where the cup has been so important.

“Before cups were an after thought because promotion was always the priority but this year the cup’s really important not just because of the financial climate we now operate in but because the fans have endured a really poor year with the club and it would be nice to go on a run and give them a nice away day somewhere."