DROYLSDEN boss Dave Pace and Curzon Ashton counterpart Gary Lowe are making their final plans ahead of their respective FA Cup first round ties on Saturday.

Both teams face sides in the top four of Coca-Cola League Two as the Bloods travel to leaders Darlington, while Curzon entertain Exeter City at the Tameside Stadium.

Pace and Lowe were both busy studying DVDs of their opponents as the Advertiser went to press in a bid to create their own FA Cup giantkilling shocks.

On paper at least, Droylsden would seem to have the tougher task against a Darlington side looking to make amends for last season’s play-off semi-final defeat against Rochdale.

Pace said: "The draw could have been kinder in as much as we could have been at home but I just hope they have an off-day.

"If they do and we’re on top of our game, then you never know.

"I know they had someone watching us against Blyth Spartans last Saturday, but it’s all down to they approach the game really."

Rather than travel up on the Friday night and stay overnight, Droylsden will head up on the day as Pace bids to stop his players suffering from nerves.

That, he believes, will be the key to getting his players performing on the day.

He explained: "I’m trying to keep it as normal a day as I can so we won’t be going up on the Friday, it’s only a couple of hours anyway.

"I don’t want to make too big a fuss of it, I want to try and make it a normal Saturday for the players."

Steve Beck is the club’s main injury doubt with the rib problem which forced him out of the win against Blyth after 38 minutes.

Lowe also has an injury on his mind with defender Adam Jones his main concern.

The centre-half was taken off as a precaution during last weekend’s defeat against FC Halifax Town as Curzon plot to turn over an Exeter side riding high.

He said: "It’s a one-off game, but to get where we are is quite an achievement. We won’t be frightened of them but if we’re going to have a chance, we’ve got to perform well and they have to have an off-day.

"It’s not rocket science, the longer we stay in the game the edgier they’ll get and the more confident we can be."