MR Onions will be down to their 'bare bones' for this weekend's FA Cup clash against Premier Division title contenders PHC with most of their key players either returning to the UK for Christmas or out injured.

Phil Anderson, coach of the First Division team, said their crisis had been compounded because of British Airways' cabin crews strike over the festive period, forcing a number of Onions' players to bring their flights home forward – leaving just half of their 27-man squad on the Island.

He said no request had been made to Bermuda Football Association for the match to be postponed.

"We're pretty much down to our bare bones and it's going to be a struggle putting a team together, the entire spine is missing," said Anderson, who will also be unavailable for action.

"I would have loved to have fielded our strongest side against PHC and given it a good go but that's not going to be possible. We've got a lot of injuries at the moment and a lot of our players are heading home for Christmas. The BA strike hasn't helped either.

"From a personal point of view I'm disappointed that I won't be able to face PHC, one of my former clubs. They've had a great start to the season and are well placed in the Premier Division so we're certainly up against it."

Former Zebras midfielder Keston Lewis had been in line for his Onions debut against his former team but the ex-Bermuda Hogges player has still not recovered from the broken foot he sustained while playing the USL-D2 last summer.

"It's a shame for Keston, said Anderson, "as I'm sure he would have dearly loved to have faced his former team-mates on Sunday. Hopefully he'll be ready for us early in the new year."

Anderson left Devonshire Colts at the end of last season after Onions, who previously played in the now defunct Commercial League, joined the First Division along with Robin Hood.

While tabletopper Hood's superb start of the campaign has grabbed most of the headlines, Onions have also enjoyed a pleasing first half of the campaign and currently lie in fourth position.

However, Anderson insists Onions have not reached their full potential and believes there is far more to come from his team.

"Total credit to Robin Hood, their defensive record has been unbelievable conceding just one goal in the league," he said. "They are so organised and have a great coaching team in Andrew Bascome and Paul Scope.

"Although we're reasonably happy to be fourth, I don't think we have hit anything like our full potential. We played very well against Young Men's Social Club recently but on the whole we've been quite inconsistent."

Onions take on PHC in the first round of FA Cup at 12.30 p.m.