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Terry Brown knows all about the FA Trophy with the Shots, as they came close to the final two years ago.
The side lost 3-1 on aggregate to eventual winners Hednesford Town, and Brown is now hoping to put together a successful run in the competition.
He told the paper, “It's a competition I would desperately like to see us progress in, and I would love to win it as we should have done a couple of years ago.
“Grays have been the most consistent side in the last 18 months, they did well last year and they're off to a flying start in the Conference.
“It'll be no easy ride, they're a very talented side riding on the crest of a wave at the moment although whether they'll maintain that through the winter remains to be seen,” added Brown.
Holders Grays won the competition last season in addition to winning the Conference South, and Brown knows it will be no easy ride if they are to overcome Mark Stimson's side.
The Shots got to the semi-final in the 2003/04 season in a great run, beating Bishop's Stortford, Blyth Spartans, Tamworth (in a replay), Exeter City before losing out to Hednesford.
Last season however, the Shots made their exit from the Trophy at the first hurdle, when an uninspiring performance saw them lose 1-0 at Conference south side Thurrock.
This time around, however, the Shots go into the match in fine form, the side haven't lost since early October in the League.
Grays' form meanwhile has dipped in their last two league games, as they suffered only their second defeat of the season at Morecambe on Saturday, and drew 1-1 with Altrincham prior to that.
“We've watched them and we know they're a good side, they should have won their FA Cup game with Mansfield as well. They have got a difficult Christmas coming up, and no doubt they'll want to progress in the Trophy as well.
“It' will be a different to the game back in August, and it should be a good indicator of how far we've come since the start of the season,” said Brown.
The boss is without striker Tim Sills, serving the last match of his suspension, while fellow front-man John Turner is also out with employers Cambridge United refusing him permission to play.
The boss is likely to return to a more attacking formation by pushing three up front including striker Ashley Vincent, in a similar 4-3-3 seen for the visit of League One side Scunthorpe United.
“We're at home which means I like to attack teams. It's the last game without Tim and he'll be back ready for Exeter, the rest will have done him good as he has been carrying the front line almost on his own for most of the season,” said Brown.
Steve Watson returns for selection, although striker Roscoe D'Sane has suffered a set back and is now unlikely to make an imminent return.
The Shots met the Conference newcomers for the first time on Bank Holiday Monday back in August and lost 2-1, Nick Crittenden scoring the consolation.
However it's possible that Brown could field a side featuring no less than SEVEN different players that lost to Grays almost four months ago.
Indeed, the entire back line from that match will be changed, as Greg Heald and John Brough have forged a strong partnership in the centre, and full-backs Darren Barnard and Matt Somner in fine form also.
Brown's problems still lay up front, but the boss is confident of having new recruits in when the transfer window re-opens at the start of January.
“The trophy has come a couple of weeks early for us, we'll have one or two new faces in after the new year and I believe we'll be one of the strongest sides in the Conference after that.
“We'll have Tim Sills back for the trip to Exeter and we'll go there full of confidence, but I need another permanent striker, and I think by the time we Exeter come to the Rec, we'll have a couple of players in,” added Brown.
In Grays' side, as Shots fans will know, there are one or two familiar faces.
Jamie Slabber, who will always be remembered for that equalising goal at Carlisle in the Play-Off semi-final for the Shots, is now Grays' top scorer with eight goals.
Fellow striker-turned-midfielder Aaron McLean and defender John Nutter will also be in the away dressing room having played for the Shots.
With thanks to the Aldershot News.