Whitstable player-boss Jamie Coyle faces his seemingly regular battle to put a side together for their FA Vase tie this weekend.

The Oystermen play in the last 16 for only the second time in their history when they host Fleet Town at The Belmont.

But Coyle will be without cup-tied duo Liam Gillies and Dean Grant while midfielders Adem Ramadan and Josh Oliver are both banned.

Whitstable beat Walsham Le Willows on penalties after a 1-1 draw in mid-January, having already seen off Jersey Bulls (2-1), Virginia Water (1-0), Hollands & Blair (1-0) and Corinthian-Casuals (4-1).

“In the last round at Walsham Le Willows, our travelling fans were unbelievable,” Coyle recalled. “They turned it into a home game.

“They deserve a home draw and for us to put in a really strong performance for them.

“We have got two players suspended, as well where, if you get two yellow cards across the competition, you’re suspended.

“If you got a yellow in your first Vase game and then the fifth Vase game of your season, you’re suspended. That’s one of the most ridiculous rules I’ve seen!

“But all that just helps add competition in our squad.

"Ronald Sithole is a prime example of that where he got his opportunity and, now, he’s got three goals in three games and he’s kept the shirt.

“It’s a test but, ultimately, we have got to believe in ourselves.

“Hopefully, we can make a bit more history for the club.”

Coyle is hoping to sign a midfielder and a forward ahead of the Vase tie.

But the former Welling and Dartford boss warned: “It’s tough.

“I’m calling on a lot of favours from people I know at higher clubs. Fleet Town are in a similar boat but they get a lot of their players from Farnham, who are a decent side.

“At the same time, you don’t want players to just come in for one game because we have got a really good dressing room. Although we have got players cup-tied, another couple are suspended and we’re down to the bare bones, I say that every time we have a Vase game!

“When the chips are down, the players seem to somehow still manage to put in a really strong performance.”

Coyle will come up against a familiar face as promotion-chasing Combined Counties Premier Division South side Fleet are captained by former team-mate Liam Pestle.

Coyle said: “I know a couple of their players.

"One of my really good mates, Liam, is skipper there. I played with him at Leatherhead.

“I’ve spoken to three or four managers from their league that have come up against them but everyone at this stage of the competition is going to be a really good side.

“We need to have a couple of good training sessions this week to understand their strengths and, also, where we can hurt them. We’re hoping there will be a big home crowd.

“Everyone at the club is excited for the game and, hopefully, we can get a positive result.”

The Oystermen drew 1-1 at home to Sutton Athletic in Southern Counties East, with young striker Sithole’s goal being cancelled out late on last weekend.

“It was really frustrating to concede a late goal again,” reflected Coyle. “That’s two home games in a row where we have done that.

“But watching the game back, we didn’t really warrant scoring any more goals than we did. Ronald scored an absolute worldie into the top corner but, outside of that, I don’t think their keeper had a save to make.

“That’s the least threatening we have looked. Every game before that this season, we have created chances, although we might not have converted them.

“You have to give Sutton some credit, as well. They were much more organised and a better side than when we played them in the first game this season.

“Our keeper, Dan Colmer, had one save to make and their keeper didn’t have a lot to do, outside of the goal we scored.

“It’s frustrating because we cannot keep letting these leads slip.

“But we have got a points total that we’re working towards to try and get in the play-off places and, if we’re looking at the positives, Saturday was another point towards that.”

Midfielder Bradley Schafer came off the bench to make his Whitstable debut against Sutton, having joined from rivals Faversham Town.

Schafer is also cup-tied in the Vase but Coyle said: “He’s someone I have admired for a number of years.

“He’s still young and has got good quality. We tried to get him in during pre-season and he’s bounced around a little bit this season at Lordswood and then at Faversham.

“He’ll add more goals and assists from midfield areas. We’re really thin on the ground. We have only Dalts (Mikey Dalton), who is nursing his way through an injury game-by-game. He has been outstanding.

“Then, we’ve got Fin Cotton and Liam Gillies in midfield, but Liam's cup-tied in the FA Vase.

"Brad has been someone I have always been keeping tabs on.

"He has got a number of years ahead of him where he can be a star for the club.”

Another new signing, attacker Albie O’Mara-Knapp, also came off the bench against Sutton.

Coyle said: “He’s another player from Dartford.

“He’s of a similar kind of mould to Ashdon Day, who has come in. He was outstanding when he first came in - and we’ve missed him since he got injured.

"Albie fits our mould because he has got real potential and a good work ethic.

“The more we play in this league, the more you realise how important it is to have a team that has got a good work ethic.

“Everyone needs to have that understanding that, if we don’t have that work ethic, they won’t be in the team.”

Whitstable return to league action with a trip to third-placed Fisher on Tuesday.