Boss Jamie Coyle is relishing Whitstable’s underdogs tag ahead of Saturday’s FA Vase tie against one of the competition favourites.

The Oystermen will host unbeaten Combined Counties Premier Division South side Jersey Bulls in the third round, kick-off 12.30pm at The Belmont.

Southern Counties East League Premier Division Whitstable, once again, have slightly depleted options. But the fixture is set to attract a bumper crowd, including several fans who will travel over from the island.

Coyle, who took in Bulls’ 4-3 victory at Corinthian-Casuals with No.2 Matt Longhurst last midweek, said: “They’re one of the favourites to win the Vase.

“I’m really looking forward to the game. We’re going to go in as underdogs.

“They’re unbeaten but it’s a great opportunity for us to showcase what we’re capable of doing, even though two of our scorers from Saturday are cup-tied.”

Among those to miss out will be in-form forward Dean Grant and midfielder Liam Gillies - who both netted in last weekend’s 3-0 league win against Erith & Belvedere - while defender Jake McIntyre remains suspended.

“We’re going to have to shake things up a little bit,” admitted Coyle. “But I always say the same thing, that it will give some players an opportunity to stake their claim for the shirt.

“Harvey Smith has had to wait his turn when he’s come back from his ban. But he has delivered so I see it as a positive.”

Gillies’ goal against Erith & Belvedere was his first this term and came after a conversation with the squad about adding more goals from midfield.

Coyle said: “He was man-of-the-match. He was brilliant in midfield, just with his energy.

“We have set a bit of a target in terms of, before Saturday, we’d only got one goal from midfield in the whole season, which isn’t good enough. We need to add more goals from our centre-backs and midfield.

“We keep track of goals, assists and man-of-the-match performances.

"We had a chat at training last week, saying we need more goals from midfield, as well as the fact that we have conceded too many goals.

“Fin Cotton got an assist, which was brilliant.

“We were excellent [the weekend before] against VCD in the second half and the goalie, Dan Colmer, only had one save to make on Saturday.

“It looks like we have turned a corner a little bit but there’s still stuff we need to work on.”

Gillies’ goal sandwiched an early penalty by attacking midfielder Josh Oliver and Grant’s late strike - both moving to six goals from eight matches in all competitions.

“I’ve spoken highly of Dean since he came in,” said Coyle. “Apparently, he has been a completely different beast to when he was last at the club.

“Six goals in eight games is outstanding, especially when you think that he’s more of a target man than a No.9 and an out-and-out goal scorer. He has been brilliant - and he will only get better.

“When we start to play more direct when the pitches deteriorate, he will be a real battering ram for us.

“The likes of Jayden Silcott-Brown, Josh Oliver and Harvey Smith can play off him. Harvey was brilliant when he came on.

“He got an assist in the game on Saturday. But we cannot keep having to score three or four goals in every game.

“In some games this season, we’re going to need to nick a 1-0 win.”

Whitstable’s win over the Deres also saw them keep a much-needed clean sheet, only a third league shut-out this term.

Coyle said: “That’s been a stumbling block of our whole season.

“It was good to get a clean sheet on Saturday.

“We’re going to have to do that between now and the end of the season. That’s definitely an area we need to improve in.

“It goes right back to the first game of the season where we were 3-1 up and conceded twice to draw 3-3.”

Youth-team midfielder Nico Grierson made his first-team debut from the bench against Erith & Belvedere.

“He has been outstanding for the under-23s,” Coyle stated.

“Some of our under-23s, under-18s - and even some of the under-16s - have been stepping up. There’s not many games where it’s dead and buried, and we can put them on with no pressure.

“It was great for Nico to come on. The youth set-up is going from strength-to-strength.

"It’s great to see these kids coming through.”

Whitstable have been handed a trip to Faversham for their Kent Senior Trophy quarter-final tie on January 18.