COLNE hitman Carl Howarth is set to come face to face with a fellow chart-topper in the FA Vase fourth round tomorrow.

Howarth, number one in the North West Counties League Division Two scoring charts, and his team-mates travel south today in preparation for taking on non-league sensations AFC Wimbledon -- and star player Michael Harvey.

But the left back is better known for calling the tune off the pitch, as the leader of controversial rap band So Solid Crew.

Harvey, who hit the top with 21 Seconds in 2001, is a former Chelsea youth team player, but now established as a non-league talent following spells with Aldershot and Ford United.

"I can't wait to play against him," admitted Howarth. "I can't say I'm a fan of their music but it's a big name so it should be interesting.

"One of our officials went to watch Wimbledon and brought a programme back. In the player profiles he listed his profession as a musician and TV presenter so we knew it was definitely him."

Harvey was an unused substitute last Saturday but may be able to force his way back into the line-up considering Wimbledon dropped their first point of the season at Sandhurst Town in the Combined Counties Premier.

Before the 2-2 draw they had won all 21 of their league games this season, stretching their run of consecutive wins to an incredible 32.

So at a time when Wimbledon's winning habit has subsided, Colne can approach the tie confident of reaching the last 16.

Howarth added: "Wimbledon won 21 out of 21, but we don't know how strong their league is. In the last round of the Vase they only won 1-0 against BAT Sports, who are ranked lower than us.

"You never know, they could be complacent because they don't know us but they are the favourites. We are massive underdogs but we have played big teams this season and beaten them.

"We knocked Southport out of the Marsden Trophy and I can't imagine Wimbledon being better than them.

"We also played Mossley in the FA Cup when we had three players missing. We lost 3-2 but should have taken them to a replay.

"They are top of the league so we've shown we can hold our own with the best in the First Division."

For 28-goal Howarth, the anticipation of a mouth-watering cup tie takes him back to his days as a youth team player with Everton, when he was in their winning squad against Blackburn in the 1997 Youth Cup final and played in the semis against West Ham the following year.

The striker, 23, will also be reminded of those days when he comes up against Joe Sheerin, the Wimbledon forward who Howarth faced during his time as a Chelsea youth player.

But Howarth insists that the buzz of the big game and prospect of a bumper crowd at Kingstonian's Kingsmeadow Stadium is rubbing off on all the players as they gear up for today's journey down and an overnight stay.

It all reflects the fact that this is Colne's biggest match since the days of the old Dynamoes side, who won the Vase at Wembley in 1988.

"Everyone is really looking forward to it, it's all we've been talking about for the last couple of weeks," said Howarth.

"We're staying over on Friday and doing it professionally. We have a good team spirit but this will make it even stronger, especially if we win.

"A cup game is a one-off so it depends on how we react to the crowd. It could give us a massive lift and we know it's a chance to show how good we are."