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WOKING striker Jake Hyde is desperate to dump Watford pal Adrian Mariappa out of the FA Cup – and take the shirt off his back for good measure.
The pair have been best mates for more than a decade since being introduced by mutual friends when Hyde was an apprentice at Swindon and Mariappa played for Reading.
Now Cards hitman Hyde, 28, who scored the second-round winner at former club Swindon, cannot wait for the chance to put one over on his mate.
Watford travel to play the National League South outfit tomorrow and Hyde revealed: “Maps is a great guy but I am looking forward to scoring two goals against him and then walking off with his shirt.
Battle
“If I get a goal against them, he won’t live that down. I’ll be reminding him until he is an old man.
“We are great friends off the field and will still be great friends after the game but come game day it is going to be a battle.
“As soon as the first whistle goes I will be looking to score and help knock them out.
“I first met Maps when I was introduced to him by Sean Morrison, who is now at Cardiff, and a few of the Swindon boys used to hang around with the Reading lads.
“We had three or four holidays together and became great friends. I go to his birthday party every year.
“We have played against each other before but only at youth level and neither of us realised we had until I found some old photos.
“If anything, our close relationship will make us both more fired up because it is about bragging rights. If he scores a goal, he will never stop reminding me about that!
“Whoever is picking him up from corners I need to make sure they know whatever happens they do not let him score.
“I am a big Chelsea fan. I was hoping we’d pull them out but as soon as we drew Watford that was the first thing that came into my head.”
While Mariappa has captained Watford in the Premier League and turned out for Jamaica, Hyde has spent the majority of his career in non-League.
He also works as a personal trainer, but insists he is not envious of his mate.
“I have the utmost respect for Maps,” he said. “To get to his early 30s and still be doing the business in the Premier League shows how well he’s done.
“You only make it at that top level through sheer hard work and dedication. He has not seen me play as much as I have seen him, so I am going to try and use that to my advantage. I know his game a lot better than he knows mine.
“It is going to be a great day. Not just because it is Watford but because it is Maps as well.”
Hyde insists the Surrey part-timers can pull off an even bigger giant-killing than in the last round, despite being the lowest-ranked team left.
The former England C international added: “It was nice to go back to Swindon and have a successful day.
“We have beaten higher teams all the way through to get to where we are. We will show Watford respect but won’t show any fear.
“It is a great opportunity to show what a good side we are against a top-10 team in the Premier League.
“We have won seven games in a row so confidence is high and they are the ones with everything to lose. We have nothing to lose.
“This is our cup final, but let’s see how far we can go. The fact it is at home and they have to come to our place will be a great leveller.”