David Mooney insists the O’s will not take non-league opponents Southport lightly this weekend in the FA Cup.

Orient are overwhelming favourites to get past a Southport team sitting 16th in the Conference in the first round tie.

The underdogs have only won one match away from home this season, back in August, but Mooney is adamant there will be no complacency from the League 1 leaders.

When asked if this could be a danger, he said: “I don’t think so. We’ve got a good group with a lot of experience around the place. A lot of us have played a lot of games and we’ll be looking forward to that game. We won’t take Southport lightly. We know they’re going to be a good side and hopefully we can just win and get into the hat for the next round.”

Mooney scored four times in the FA Cup last season and hopes he will get the chance to continue this form, starting against Southport.

The former Reading striker said: “I do [have a good record in the competition] although I haven’t scored in the cup this year but hopefully I’ll get to play this Saturday. I don’t know what the manager’s going to do but if I play then I’ll be looking to score again.”

The 29-year-old played a pivotal role in Orient’s 3-1 win at Peterborough United, netting twice at London Road. Mooney believes it was the best performance from the side this season.

He said: “I thought we played really well. I think that’s probably the best we’ve played and the gaffer said after the game we’ve raised the bar to a new level. To be fair to them, they’re a good side and we’ve run out comfortable [winners] so it just goes to show how well we’ve played.”

Mooney suffered a frustrating October, failing to add to his goal tally, after missing successive penalties at Tranmere Rovers and Coventry City. He talked with strike partner Kevin Lisbie last week and they agreed he was not getting into the penalty area enough. The discussion paid off handsomely on Saturday with his brace taking him to 11 league goals this season.

Mooney admitted: “Last month wasn’t the best month for me and obviously hitting the crossbar from the edge of the box [against Peterborough] was a bit frustrating but I managed to get the two goals so I’m delighted.

“I was having a chat with Kev during the week and the last few games I haven’t been getting myself in the box. Apart from the two penalties, I haven’t had a shot on goal in the last few games so I think it was important for me to get in the box and play off the back of the fella rather than the front. Thankfully I’ve managed to get on the end of two good goals so I’m quite happy.

The striker added: “I’ve not changed anything this year. Obviously we’ve got a good understanding [with Lisbie] and we’re creating a lot more chances than in the last few years. I just had to get in the box more and thankfully I did and probably could have had three or four goals.

“There was the one off the crossbar and then early in the second half when I hit the inside of the keeper’s leg and it rolled across the line. It’s just important to get in the box and when you’ve got widemen like we have they create chances for you.”

Cynics have suggested Orient have benefited from an easy fixture list but in the last eight league games the O’s have faced five teams inside the top ten.

When asked if the Peterborough win ended the myth of an easy run, Mooney replied: “Of course it does. We’ve played MK Dons, Brentford away, we’ve come here and won. The Coventry game was obviously the one where we didn’t perform to our best.

"We were missing Lis that night and I missed a penalty at 1-0 down so on another night we probably could have walked away with a draw. I think we’ve played most of the top teams and it’s just Wolves still to come on the 29th of December.”