Braintree Town manager Alan Devonshire is hoping that a few days of extra recuperation may have benefited some of his players as they look to get their FA Trophy last-16 clash against Ebbsfleet United played tonight.

The initial meeting between the Iron and their Vanarama Conference South opponents was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch at the Miles Smith Stadium on Saturday and has been rescheduled to take place at Braintree’s home tonight.

Ahead of the weekend, Devonshire had feared Mitch Brundle (hand), James Mulley (groin), Ryan Peters (hamstring) and Jordan Cox (illness) would all be doubts for Saturday action, but is now hoping to have one or more of them back.

He said: “Having the game called off at half past one on Saturday wasn’t ideal, but it was the referee’s decision and you go with that.

“It does give us a couple of extra days with players who were struggling and I expect to definitely have one back and hopefully two of them.”

The prize awaiting the winners of tonight’s game is a quarter-final trip to face Conference North side North Ferriby United, who earned their own place in the last eight with a 2-0 win at Farnborough United on Saturday.

However, Devonshire isn’t concerned by the next stage.

He added: “I’m not even thinking about that, all we’re concentrating on right now is the game tonight and that’s all.”

The Iron boss has said in the past that he feels his players perform best when they have regular action, but even though the call-off on Saturday was their second postponement in a row, he has no extra fears of facing the Fleet.

Braintree’s Vanarama Conference Premier game at Southport was also postponed last Tuesday due to a frozen pitch in the north west meaning the Iron won’t have played since their 2-1 defeat by Forest Green Rovers ten days ago.

However, with Ebbsfleet having invested heavily in their squad in recent weeks and looking like a tough proposition for Devonshire’s side, he knows it will be a difficult game whatever their preparations.

He said: “There are no extra fears as it’s going to be hard anyway.

“They are a decent side and have signed six players from Football League clubs recently so they are a side with money, but it’s 11 versus 11 and we will give it a go.

“We’ll do our best as that’s all we ever do.”