Leyton Orient should have no fear heading into their FA Cup clash with Gillingham on Saturday, according to assistant boss Ross Embleton.

The O’s travel to Priestfield Stadium for the first round clash as clear underdogs against the League One outfit.

Gillingham do, however, present a tangible opportunity for Orient to cause an upset and have endured a difficult start to the season.

They sit 22nd in English football’s third tier, despite a 3-1 win over Rotherham United last time out, and Embleton insists Orient have little to lose in the tie.

“I think you have to sense there is an upset possible. If you are going into these games and are intimidated by the environment then we are all in the wrong game,” Embleton said.

“From a personal perspective, whenever I compete against someone who is perceived to be at a higher level than me I want to play to the best of my abilities.

“It is always a tough on e for the bigger team and they have everything to lose and not much to gain.

“We have to make the most of that and try and make it tough for them.”

The FA Cup provided a rare port in a storm last month as Orient took Dagenham & Redbridge to a replay before sealing a 1-0 win to advance.

Their league form has though, been abject and a run of 10 National League outings without a win sees Orient firmly embroiled in the relegation conversation.

Embleton hopes a break from league commitments can provide a similar lift and says doing well in the cup remains an aim for the Brisbane Road outfit.

“To a degree it is a nice break from the league and we got a good result against Dagenham in the last round,” he said.

“It is certainly something we will look to build on, and we have looked back on the two games against Dagenham where we kept clean sheets positively.

“It is important that we pull out the positives from the cup and it is a good game from our perspective.”

Orient used their clashes with the Daggers to blood a number of young players as Steve Davis rang the changes.

They are likely to do so once again on Saturday and many in Orient’s number will be taking on a League One outfit for the first time.

It is a challenge Embleton feels players should relish and has called on the Orient squad to prove their worth against their Football League opponents.

“You want to get drawn against teams that are further up the ladder so you can test yourself in those environments,” he said.

“It’s a good opportunity for a number of young players in our team who have perhaps not faced a League One side before.

“They can gauge themselves against that level of player and see where they are aspiring to play.”

Victory on Saturday would see the O’s go one step further than they did in last season’s competition, which saw them thrashed 6-0 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Progression to the second round also comes with the added incentive of a £27,000 windfall, which would, of course, be gleefully received.

More pertinently from a playing perspective, defeating Gillingham would leave Orient one win away from the third round and a potential clash with a Premier League outfit.

The league remains the club’s main priority and Davis is likely to have one eye on Orient’s return to league action the following week.

A trip to Ebbsfleet United awaits on November 11, where Orient will look for their first league win since the start of September.

United sit 13th in the table.