Elliott Johnson is relishing a return to FA Cup action this weekend, as Conference table toppers Barnet take on League Two leaders Wycombe Wanderers at The Hive in a first round clash.

Speaking ahead of the game, Elliott said that on the back of their league form the Bees would be going into the game full of confidence:

“We played them in pre-season and it was a very close game. With both teams having very good seasons it should be a great game.

“Our team has come on leaps and bounds since pre-season. Everybody is really starting to gel well now so it will be a good test to go up against them and see how close the teams are now. Playing against them now, I can’t see why we can’t go one better and beat them.”

Although Elliott believes that the team’s recent exploits in the league mean that they will carry plenty of momentum into the game, he did admit that the challenge of progressing in the FA Cup would make a refreshing change this weekend:

“I think it shows the character of the team to go to a place like Welling and dog and fight all game and then go and get a winner at the end. That has put us in great form going into Saturday.

“Every team that comes here wants to get one over on us.  Now we can play with the pressure off and relax and just play our own game without worrying about that title of being top of the league.”

This season has seen Elliott switch between his regular berth at left-back and a new role which has seen him excel in midfield, and he believes that this versatility is one of many factors behind the squad’s success so far this season:

“I’m really enjoying it. The manager has put me in there a few times now and it is definitely helping my game with that awareness of other players that comes with playing in midfield.

“You have seen all of the players that have been moved about have done well. Any player can go in any position and do a job. Week in week out we are picking up points with players perhaps not playing in their regular positions and still doing well.

And with both players and fans on a high, he sees no reason why the Bees can’t cause an upset and progress even further in the competition tomorrow:

“Especially with it being at home, we are just going to go out there and keep playing our game.

“We are not really bothered about the team that we are playing, we just want to do our own thing and I am sure that we can get through to the next round.”