ALTRINCHAM boss Bernard Taylor is warning his players to beware treading on a big FA Cup banana-skin on Saturday.
The on-song Robins, riding high in the UniBond Premier, are strong favourites to dispatch their inconsistent First Division rivals Witton Albion at Moss Lane.
Victory carries a £10,000 prize together with a place in the fourth and final qualifying round, but Taylor is taking nothing for granted.
He said: ‘‘I watched Witton last weekend and, in spite of the fact they were beaten, they looked a decent side with players who could hurt us given the chance.
‘‘It’s a marvellous draw for us, but no-one should forget what Mossley did to us when they came here in the Cup last season. If people think Witton will come as lambs to the slaughter, I’m afraid they’re very much mistaken.’’
Taylor is hoping crocked quartet Stuart Coburn, Ian Craney, Kevin Hulme and Carl Furlong will all have shaken off knocks in time to play.
Elsewhere in the Cup, in-form Rossendale will have their hands full at Barrow, but Runcorn Halton will be hoping to make the most of home advantage against top Northern League outfit Bedlington Terriers.
Accrington will travel to Emley full of confidence, having recently won there 3-0 in the UniBond League.
Stalybridge, unbeaten in their last three Nationwide Conference games, will be seeking to extend their mini-revival at high-flying Nuneaton.
Leigh, who have slipped back into trouble following successive home defeats, welcome striker Tony Black back from injury for their trip to Barnet.
Centre-half Andy Farrell is suspended. Iain Swan will deputise.
Northwich host Hayes in a key basement battle while Chester, boosted by their midweek victory over Hereford, can further enhance caretaker-boss Steve Mungall’s chances of landing the job permanently by taking something from their trip to Morecambe.
In the UniBond Premier, Droylsden visit Bishop Auckland while bottom-placed Hyde face a crunch clash at fellow strugglers Frickley.
Top local First Division tussles see Radcliffe hosting Chorley and Ashton United locking horns with leaders Eastwood at Hurst Cross.
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