WITH promotion to the Toolstation Western League premier division still the key piece to Truro City's jig-saw for this season, there can still be no question that their biggest match of the season will be this Saturday's FA Cup fourth round clash with Arngrove Northern League side Newcastle Benfield.

The match promises to be a clash of styles with City's short, sharp passing game pitted against a typical Northern side who look strong and uncompromising and feed off the chances worked around six-foot plus striker Chris Brodie.

The gangly Brodie only joined the club in the summer from Whickham, but he has already become an integral part of a side who have yet to lose a match away from home.

The squad is laced with players who have league experience. Midfielder Ian Graham was with Sunderland and another midfielder, Paul Hutchinson, was released by Celtic.

Another former league player in the ranks is defender Phil Lumsden who was with West Ham United in 2005.

Ian Crutwell is another who has been with Leeds United and Hull City and Paddy Atkinson is a former Queen of the South player.

Along with most clubs Benfield pick up their fair share of red and yellow cards with five having been sent off this season, including Brodie. Thirteen of the team have received yellow cards with Shaun Bell out in front with six followed by Mark Rasmussen with 4.

Their manager, Paul Baker, has played at the highest level with clubs on his cv such as Southampton, Carlisle United, Hartlepools, and Motherwell. He took over the reins in 2005 and took the club to the fifth round of the Vase.

City's director of football, Chris Webb, said the club are looking forward to the tie: "I think it's definitely going to be one hell of a game with a place in the last 16 of a national competition at stake.

"After what we saw on Saturday it's going to be very interesting, especially the different styles of game used by the two teams. They have a couple of tasty players up front and play to their strengths, targeting their front men with free kicks and long throws and trying to win the aerial battle.

"That is something we will have to think about because they are very difficult to shake off the ball.

"They have also shown that they are a side who are always capable of coming back after conceding a goal. We saw that on Saturday when twice they fell behind but responded on each occasion, so they will keep going until the last minute in the belief that they have the ability to rescue any game."

Following their Cornwall Senior Cup tie with Saltash United on Friday evening, City have picked up some worrying knocks with doubts over Graham Power, Jake Ash, and Ian Gosling.

"The biggest concern is over Gosling, but we will just have to see how it goes," said Webb. "Dave Leonard and Glynn Hooper are well aware of the size of the task and will be assessing what squad they will require. Then they will have them well prepared for what promises to be a great game in front of a big crowd."

Although no conclusions will be drawn from just one match the feeling is that if City can play well the tie is winnable against one of the teams who are fancied to reach the final.

However, Benfield are not concerned about reputations and will arrive at Treyew Road with an impressive record and an equally impressive squad and will be intent on returning to the north still very much in the competition.

Kick-off is 3 pm.

* City have landed another big signing following the capture of midfielder Scott Walker from Conference South side Weston-super-Mare for an undisclosed fee.

Walker, a highly-rated defender or midfielder, can operate on either flank and will bring extra experience to the side having also played for Newport County and Chippenham Town.