HOT-SHOT Sam Higgins is backing East Thurrock United to upset the odds and beat Aldershot Town in the FA Trophy.

The 26-year-old striker hit a hat-trick as Bowers & Pitsea were dispatched in the Essex Senior Cup on Tuesday, taking his tally up to 10 for the season in just nine games.

But the captain, recently returned to full fitness, now wants to add to his tally against the National League side, as Rocks continue to impress in their first season in the National League South.

“It is a really exciting one against a big club that was in the Football League not long ago (they were relegated from League Two in 2013),” said Higgins, who has scored an astonishing 227 goals in 254 games so far for East Thurrock. “We are at home and we are confident we can progress.

“We have that advantage and Saturday (against Wealdstone) was the first time we had lost in a while. Confidence in the camp is high and it should be as we are playing well.”

Aldershot are currently 10th in the National League, with the winner of tomorrow’s tie pocketing £5,000.

Higgins missed all but 80 minutes of the first three months of the season after suffering a recurrence of a troublesome hamstring injury.

But he is now fighting fit and ready to continue helping East Thurrock climb the table and in the cup competitions.

“It has been a frustrating season for me personally,” said Rocks’ record goal-scorer. “The team have been doing really well but it is good to be back and helping now.

“I feel good and it is great to be straight back in the goals. It was nice to play in the Essex Senior Cup and it would be brilliant to win it as captain.

“We are giving that competition a real go this year as we have fewer midweek fixtures and it is important to keep the fitness levels up.”

The Rocks striker had been linked with a money to big-spending Billericay Town in recent weeks, but Higgins has rejected the claims and said he is happy at East Thurrock.

“I have not heard anything from them,” he said. “I enjoy playing here and am staying at East Thurrock.”