GRIMSBY Town won't be taking Welling United lightly this afternoon – despite the Wings' lowly league position.
Jamie Day's (pictured) side are currently 22nd in the early-season Conference table, chasing their first win of the campaign.
However, Hurst points to their opening fixtures against the likes of Forest Green Rovers, Eastleigh and Halifax as the key reason for their lack of victories.
"Welling have made a decent start without getting the victories they would like," he said.
"They've had a difficult start and the draw last week against Forest Green Rovers was a decent point.
"I think they've been 'in' most games that they've played and were looking to build on a good season last year.
"They've lost a couple of players but obviously fetched a couple in to replace them, and it will probably take them a little bit of time.
"Jamie did an excellent job last year, and we won't be taking Welling lightly."
The Mariners took just a solitary point off Day's men last season after two tough Conference encounters.
Hurst continued: "They were difficult last season and we didn't have a great record against them. There was a defeat early on, in the third game, in a match where I felt we were relatively comfortable but couldn't score.
"Then we took our foot off the gas a bit and paid for that.
"In the home game, it was Dayle Southwell who grabbed a late injury-time goal to salvage a point, and we certainly deserved at least that.
"We found them very hard-working and very organised, and difficult to break down.
"I don't really envisage much of a change to that. They certainly deserve our respect. They'll be getting that from me and I'll be impressing it on the players as well."
