Boss Jim Magilton has his options limited by injury, suspension and unavailability ahead of Town's first FA Cup fifth round tie in 11 years. The Blues travel to Watford with their attacking options stretched, but hoping that skipper Jason De Vos could return to the defence.

Top scorer Alan Lee is serving the second match of a two-game ban, while January signing Jon Walters played for Chester in the cup against Town earlier in the season.

De Vos is back in the squad after making a quicker than expected recovery from his cracked metatarsal. The trip to Vicarage Road may come too soon but the Canadian will be assessed close to kick-off before a decision is finally made. Richard Naylor is not being risked at Watford due to his badly bruised toe.

In midfield, Gavin Williams is having a course of injections for a pelvic injury and is out, while Owen Garvan is banned for one game for last week's red card against Leicester.

With his main two strikers missing, Magilton will look to part-time strikers and youngsters to try to net the goals which will beat the Hornets.

Dean Bowditch's loan move to Brighton has been delayed until after the weekend, but the 20-year-old, who has been out of action for some time with a groin injury, is unlikely to start, although he could be involved at some stage.

Billy Clarke has looked tired in recent weeks and may drop to the bench, while Danny Haynes tends to be more effective when introduced as a substitute.

Magilton may instead look to occasional strikers George O'Callaghan and Gary Roberts. O'Callaghan was a frontman in his days at Port Vale, while Roberts was regularly on the scoresheet while playing up front for Accrington Stanley before making his move to Town.

The Blues boss will also have to decide whether to play two strikers or one frontman and a five-man midfield. The latter looks a likely approach with O'Callaghan, who is set to make his first Town start, perhaps switching between midfield and attack during the game as he did for the reserves at Southend recently.

In Owen Garvan's absence, Matt Richards could return, particularly if Magilton goes with five midfielders. Sylvain Legwinski will continue in the centre with Jaime Peters on one flank and Darren Currie or Gary Roberts on the other. Youngster Liam Trotter is included in the squad and could be on the bench.

The Town manager may be considering a recall for Shane Supple, having switched his keepers as he looked for a change of fortune after poor results earlier in the season. Supple hasn't played since replacing Lewis Price in the third round tie at Chester last month.

Dan Harding and David Wright will play in their usual full-back roles with De Vos at the centre if fit, probably alongside Fabian Wilnis with Alex Bruce on the bench, although the Dutchman is a slight concern with a hamstring problem.

Magilton says his side will benefit from the return of Jason De Vos: “We had six players under 21 against Leicester last Saturday, and with respect to the youngsters, we need some men on the pitch.

“This takes some of the pressure off young players learning the game. Jason has been brilliant in the dressing room and around the place while he has been out.

“He has been trying to lift the players and it will be a bonus when we do have him back.”

The Town manager says Saturday's game will be a test of his players' progress: “It will be guide to where we stand.

“With a number of players suspended or injured we will have others coming in, and it will give me an indication of who wants to be here next season.

“There have been times when we have not quite shown enough, and one or two may have lost a little belief. I am not going to have that.”

Watford boss Aidy Boothroyd doesn't expect an easy game: "Ipswich are a tough team, I've seen them quite a bit and on their day they can beat anybody.

"We've got to make sure that we perform and we look to build on that great result on Saturday - we've got to get a result against Ipswich as well and take it into the next games. Ipswich must be respected and we must win."

Like Magilton, Boothroyd will be unable to field a full-strength side due to injuries and players being cup-tied. Former Canary Malky Mackay has a calf problem and is considered to have a 50/50 chance of making it, while long-term absentee Marlon King is still out. Defenders Clarke Carlisle and James Chambers are also not in contention.

January recruits Will Hoskins, Lee Williamson and Gareth Williams are cup-tied, but Steve Kabba, a player who was also interesting Town, is available for selection and will probably get the nod alongside Darius Henderson, who scored twice in Town's 2-1 league defeat at Vicarage Road in April.

Town have sold their entire allocation of 4,500 tickets in the Vicarage Road Stand with more Blues expected to be sitting amongst the home supporters. Fans driving to the game are advised to leave early as parking is very limited.

The Blues are in danger of creating an unwanted club record if they fail to score against the Hornets, having gone five away games without a goal, a feat previously achieved in 1950-51, 1952-53, 1970-71, 1977-78 and 1994-95. The club has never managed six away blanks in a row.

Town last faced Watford in the FA Cup in 1956 at the second round stage, the Blues leaving Vicarage Road with a 3-1 victory courtesy of goals from Ted Phillips (2) and Tom Garneys. The only other FA Cup game between the two sides was Town's first ever in 1936 when the Blues won a first round tie 2-1 at Portman Road, with Jock Carter and Jack Blackwell on the scoresheet.

If Saturday's game ends in a draw, the sides will replay at Portman Road on Tuesday, 27th February with a 7.45pm kick-off.

Saturday's referee is Premiership official Steve Bennett from Orpington, who has shown 117 yellow and 12 red cards in 34 games this season. Bennett's last Town match was the 2-2 home draw with Sunderland in April 2005 in which he booked five Town players including Fabian Wilnis, Richard Naylor and Jason De Vos.

Squad: Bowditch, Bruce, Casement, Clarke, Currie, De Vos, Harding, Haynes, Legwinski, O'Callaghan, Peters, Price, Richards, Roberts, Sito, Supple, Trotter, Wilnis, Wright.

Photo: Action Images

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