One of the biggest afternoons in United's history is now less than twenty-four hours away. The countdown to tomorrow's massive FA Cup fourth qualifying round clash is almost up.
For only the fifth time in twenty-eight attempts since the demise of the original Hastings United in the mid-1980s, the club that now bears that name stands within one game of a place in the draw for the first round proper, when the forty-eight teams from Leagues One and Two join the fray.
As was the case on the previous three occasions, the U's have the advantage of a home tie, but for the first time, they face a side from further down the non-league pyramid and will have to handle the pressure of being firm favourites to progress.
Crawley Town in 1994, Hendon in 1996 and Kettering Town in 2002 all left the Pilot Field in high spirits after securing themselves home replays, from which United emerged victorious only once, that famous night ten years ago when they thrashed Kettering 5-0 to earn a trip to Stevenage Borough, where ignominious defeat was followed by a collapse in league form and, ultimately, in relegation.
The omens may not look all that promising, therefore, but after six years without a single FA Cup victory, U's supporters have suddenly been spoilt this term, with Chatham Town, Staines Town and Hitchin Town already dispatched and Wessex League outfit Blackfield & Langley now separating Sean Ray's 2012 vintage from a potential money-spinning meeting with the likes of former cup winners Portsmouth, Coventry City and Sheffield United.
Mind you, hailing from the eastern edge of the New Forest, not far from Southampton, tomorrow's visitors might well fancy a crack at Pompey themselves as well. The Watersiders made their FA Cup debut in 2002, the year of United's run to the First Round, and made history when they booked their place in the third qualifying round last month, progressing further than they had managed before.
Starting two rounds earlier than United, the free scoring Hampshire side have so far eliminated AFC Portchester, Downton, Almondsbury UWE and Fareham Town, before a shock 3-1 win away to Southern League near neighbours Sholing earned them their trip to the Pilot Field.
Blackfield & Langley go into the game in top form, having prolonged another two cup campaigns in the last seven days, winning 5-1 at home to Westbury United to reach the second round of the FA Vase a week ago and following up with a 4-1 victory at Fareham at the same stage of the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday evening.
That same night, a largely second string U's side came through 1-0 against Lewes in the second round of the Ryman League Cup, a match that saw player/boss Ray rest the vast majority of a senior squad that is reportedly set to be at full strength come 3.00pm tomorrow.
Bradley Goldberg will be looking to add to his tally of five goals in four cup games this season, and to maintain his record of scoring in every match to date, while Ray himself has already notched three goals in nine appearances in all competitions, including the replay winner at Hitchin in the last round.
Whilst lacking in FA Cup pedigree as a unit, Blackfield & Langley manager Ashley Vickers was certainly no stranger when it came to the big stage in his playing days, having featured in the fourth round for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2003. One time Southampton midfielder Kevin Gibbens is perhaps the man that United will have to watch most on the field of play and he scored two of his side's goals in their big FA Vase win last weekend.
A place in Sunday's draw, which will be broadcast live on ITV, awaits the victors. For the losers, it will just be case of what might have been and a return to more mundane affairs. Anyone unable to make it to the Pilot Field can follow updates on the U's Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/hastingsufc, or at the foot of the home page of this site. Alternatively, you can tune in to live commentary courtesy of BBC Radio Sussex & Surrey Sport Online.