Wrexham return to action with a first clash against Folkestone Invicta; a place in the last 16 of the FA Trophy is the reward.
Wrexham know the route to Wembley, of course, having won the trophy in 2013 and got to the final again to years later. Invicta, on the other hand, are already in uncharted territory having never got this far in the competition before. They've played a significant cup tie in this neck of the woods, though, as they made it to the first round of the FA Cup in 2005, where they were unlucky to lose at Chester.
Wrexham will have to do without Harry Lennon, who is suspended after the red card he picked up at Notts County, while Devonte Redmond left on loan to FA Cup heroes Kidderminster Harriers on Friday.
Phil Parkinson has already declared that Paul Mullin will be rested, giving him a full three weeks to try to shake off the hamstring issue which he has been bravely playing through. A number of players played in a friendly behind closed doors against Burton Albion in the week to get back into the swing of things following the disruption of the last month.
Invicta, meanwhile, are enjoying a superb season,and currently stand in second place in the Isthmian Premier Division. However, COVID has intervened in the build-up to the game, forcing them to postpone last weekend's match against Horsham. Manager Neil Cugley is relishing bringing his in-form side to The Racecourse:
It’s a great ground to go to. Once we get there we’ll be well up for it. I can’t wait.
Cugley's side are prolific scorers, and the manager has challenged strikers David Smith and Ade Yusuff (no, not that one!) to each score 25 goals this season, and they're both closing in on 20 already. With 5 wins and 2 defeats in their last 9 matches, they've hit form at a key point of the season,and are the third highest scorers of the Isthmian Premier Division.
Certainly Cugley, who has been at the helm for Invicta for 24 years, has seen it all. But he's confident his side will have a good go at pulling off their greatest victory at The Racecourse and enter uncharted territory.
POTENTIAL MILESTONES
If Wrexham win, it will be:
the first time we've won consecutive cup ties since 2018 (Harrogate and Weston Super Mare in the FA Cup).
the first time we've won three conscutive home cup ties since 2014-15 (Maidstone (FA Cup), Southport and Stockport (FA Trophy)).
If Folkestone win it will be:
the first time they have reached the 5th round of the FA Trophy.