Sittingbourne manager Ryan Maxwell makes his side FA Cup underdogs against last season’s ‘Invincibles’ Farnham Town

Sittingbourne may be favourites to win the league - but Ryan Maxwell makes them underdogs in the FA Cup this weekend.

The Brickies - 5-0 winners over Broadbridge Heath in their Isthmian South East opener - visit Farnham Town in a preliminary round tie on Saturday (3pm).

Their opponents went unbeaten in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South last season, taking the title with 35 wins and three draws.

And they’ve made a flying start to the new campaign, negotiating an FA Cup extra preliminary round tie and winning 5-1 at Badshot Lea 5-1 in their first Isthmian South Central match.

“They’ve had a fantastic year,” said Brickies boss Maxwell, who was at Crystal Palace with Farnham assistant boss Jimmy Hibburt.

“To go unbeaten at any level is a fantastic achievement.

“It only takes one off-day so fair play to them.

“They’ve kept that side together and added some good players - it’s no secret they’re well-financed.

“They’ve won their first match in the FA Cup already and we’re away, so they’re definitely favourites.

“But we’re off the back of a 5-0 win, we’re confident, we’re in good shape, the boys are fit and we should have a full squad available.

“We’re looking forward to it but we know it’s a tough game.

“I think the pressure is on them because they should be favourites. We’ll go and enjoy it and play our stuff.”

Sittingbourne made a dream start to the league season with their destruction of Broadbridge Heath.

Mitchell May gave them an early lead followed by goals for new signings Joe Boachie (2), Liam Smith and Troy Howard.

Maxwell wasn’t allowed to watch the game live after being hit with an FA misconduct charge relating to Sittingbourne’s 1-1 draw at Ramsgate last season.

Instead, he took himself off to the