TAUNTON Town host Willand Rovers in the first round of the Bet Victor Southern League's Challenge Cup tonight (ko 7.45pm), with head of football Rob Dray promising to field a strong team at the Cygnet Health Care Stadium.

In previous years, the Peacocks have used the competition to blood youngsters from education partner Bridgwater & Taunton College, but the strength of the squad available to Dray means that several first team players are in need of minutes.

"We'll be strong," Dray told the County Gazette.

"We have 17, 18, 19 in our first team squad, so the side we put out [on Wednesday] could play on Saturday [at home to Swindon Supermarine] or at Havant & Waterlooville [in the next round of the FA Cup]."

Dray said that Ryan Brett would start the match – his first start of the season after a knee injury – but Ben Adelsbury is being nursed back to full fitness after a hamstring issue.

New signing Nick Grimes is also expected to start in defence, after missing last Saturday's game through suspension, while Exeter City loanee Harry Kite is unavailable due to him playing for his parent club's Under-23s.

Willand have struggled so far in Division 1 South, having earned promotion last season, with five defeats from five league games.