Leyton Orient boss Mauro Milanese believes success in the FA Cup can boost the players' fragile confidence and also offer a potential path to facing a Premier League giant.

Orient travel to Oldham Athletic in the first round tomorrow and already have a win this season at their League One rivals after beating them 3-1 in August. 

The O's boss said: “The FA Cup is a very good competition and it is a special cup. At the beginning you may play teams around you but if we can get through a couple of rounds then we could draw a Premier League team which would be very good for Leyton Orient.

“Every game we are doing more positive things but if we can go on and get some good results in the cup then it will help the players gain more confidence.”

Milanese continued: “Oldham are a tough side that play very well at home. But we have prepared well for this match and our mentality will be to press higher and play the ball on the floor as much as we can.

“It has been easier for us to play away from home and I think the team plays better when it is an open game and there is more space to attack,” he added.

Romain Vincelot is still at least a couple of weeks away, following minor knee surgery, from a return while Darius Henderson serves the final game of his three-match ban. But defender Gary Sawyer is fit and available as he looks to make his first appearance since the Capital One Cup win at Aston Villa in August.