The Poppies skipper looks certain to be back at the heart of the defence at Sincil Bank after completing his three-match suspension in the 1-0 defeat at Histon at the weekend.

One of the games he missed was the 1-1 draw with the Imps at the
A-Line Arena 10 days ago.

And, while Branston is determined to help Kettering try to pull off an upset tonight, he insists a return to form in the Blue Square Premier remains their priority after two successive defeats in the league.

"It feels like I have been out for ages. But it has only been 10 days so
fitness-wise not a lot has changed and I am raring to go," said Branston.

"I would love to be involved and, hopefully, the gaffer (Mark Cooper) will put me back in. It's important for the club that we go through and that's what we will try to do.

"The lads will be fired up for it. It's the FA Cup and every player wants to be involved.

"We feel we can go up there and win. We should have won the first game. But there were one or two mistakes that cost us.

"We probably gave the ball back to them too easily at times and we need to continue to play to our strengths.

"It was disappointing not to win that game. But we will go again with the same attitude and if I can pop up at the back post with the winner then that would be great!

"It would be nice to get into the second round. But, whatever happens, we can't lose sight of the league and make sure our form improves in that."

Branston, meanwhile, believes both sets of players will just want to get on with the game and ignore the off-the-field comments that have been made after it was alleged that members of the Lincoln staff were racially abused in the first meeting.

He added: "As far as the players are concerned the situation has been defused.

"I think both teams will just want to get their heads down and get on
with the game – which is what it is all about."