Michael Shinn has encouraged his Newmarket Town players to embrace their role as underdogs when they play host to Oxford City in the FA Trophy on Saturday (3pm).

The Jockeys have already made club history in this season’s competition, having reached the second round proper for the first time.

And standing in their way of a place in Monday lunchtime’s third-round draw is a City side that are riding high two levels above Newmarket in the non-league pyramid.

The Hoops will arrive at the NYO Stadium sitting third in the National League North, and last Friday they gave a positive account of themselves in front of the nation when they suffered a 4-2 defeat to EFL League One side Leicester City in the FA Cup live on TNT Sports.

It is certainly a tall order for Shinn’s side, but the boss is confident his group will still give a positive account of themselves.

“I didn’t actually watch them play against Leicester because I’d be very surprised if they set up the same way against us,” said Shinn.

“I’m not sure there was much we would have learned from that game, but fair play to them, it sounds like they played really well.

“From our point of view, it is what it is. There is no real expectation on us, and we can go into the game a little bit under the radar.

“We are what we are, and the boys know my expectation of them. Whether we were battling for the play-offs or in the bottom four, we play the way we play, and that won’t change against any opposition.

“In possession we play a certain way, and then out of possession we expect certain things as well.

“It’s going to be massively important that we stay in control out of possession, and we’ll need to get some luck at some points as well. But the way we play, we’ll also carry plenty of goal threat.

“The boys will be focused going into it, and we’re at home, where we don’t fear anyone.”

Newmarket head into the tie having seen their 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions ended by a 3-2 defeat last weekend at AFC Sudbury, who won the Isthmian League North Division fixture thanks to a stoppage-time goal from Charlie Oxborrow.

Reflecting on that rare loss, and the wider picture of Newmarket’s campaign to date, Shinn added: “It was always going to be disappointing to see it come to an end.

“We went 2-0 down, but we were fantastic in the last half an hour. Maybe we should have tightened up after the equaliser and settled for the point, but it felt like a game we could win.

“It would be a ridiculous thing to say it’s a good thing that it’s over, but it was all that people were focusing on, and asking whether our targets and expectations had changed. That focus will stop now.

“I think we’ve exceeded expectations, especially to have got this far in the Trophy.

“We had a decent run in the FA Cup as well, we’re flying in the league at the moment, and we’re still in the League Cup.

“We’ve done all that with so many midweek matches and plenty of knocks to players as well.

“When I think back to where the club was when I came in, we’ve come so far.

“If we can win on Saturday, that would add to all of the hard work we’ve done so far.”

Defender Ben Robinson is set to miss the Oxford clash with a hamstring injury, but Shinn has no further fitness concerns.