Forest Green Rovers host Southern League minnows Alvechurch at the New Lawn Stadium this Saturday in the second round of the FA Cup.
With four divisions and 92 league places separating the two sides, the match will prove to be one of the most interesting match-ups in the entire cup round.
Match preview
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Having been promoted to League One via the automatic promotion spot, Forest Green fans would have known they would have been up against it in the league this season.
They find themselves sat right at the bottom of the table with just three wins in 19 matches, deep in a relegation fight with Morecambe, Burton Albion and MK Dons.
Their precarious league status has made progression in the cup crucial to capitalising on their rise in status.
Amid the backdrop of nationwide financial pressure since the COVID-19 Pandemic began, the prize money for reaching the latter stages of the cup has never been more important for clubs in the Football League, and the case is no different for Forest Green.
The Green made it to the second round after a masterclass performance from striker Connor Wickham; the former Sunderland and Crystal Palace man arrived at Gloucestershire club this season, showing his star quality with an unforgettable strike from the halfway line.
Making the third round with a victory on Saturday would help cement their status as a true Football League competitor - a far cry from their non-league status of just five years ago.
Arriving at the New Lane on Saturday is seventh-tier Worcestershire side Alvechurch.
The Church managed an absolute triumph against the odds in the last round, beating League One's Cheltenham Town thanks to a brace from 26-year-old forward Danny Waldron.
After capitalising on Caleb Taylor's fumble, Waldron shimmied past the remaining defence and buried his first, celebrating joyously with a group of Church fans. Waldron doubled his side's tally with a rebound in the second half - his performance being the difference for Alvechurch.
Saturday's game marks the only time that Alvechurch have reached the FA Cup second round, having only made it out of qualifying two times prior to this season. Manager Ian Long has led his side brilliantly to reach this point, and will be looking for yet another giant-killing at the weekend.
However, with Forest Green's league form incentivising the club to make the third round, alongside the reality of Alvechurch's own disappointing league form this season, any result for the away team would be utterly extraordinary.
Team News
Forest Green manager Ian Burchnall has cut a morose figure in recent weeks, facing a sheer number of absences due to injury recently.
Reece Brown, David Davis, Udoka Godwin-Malife, Armani Little, Jordan Moore-Taylor, Ben Stevenson and Mathew Stevens will all definitely miss the match on Saturday.
After starting for the Green in his first match on Tuesday, new signing Dylan McGeouch will likely make the starting lineup at the weekend. The signing of the former Aberdeen midfielder, who arrived as a free agent earlier this week, will no doubt ease the personnel crisis for Burchnall.
The Green will be up against a full-strength Alvechurch side, with manager Long not wanting to take any chances in his selection this weekend.
Forest Green Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGee; Bernard, Casey, Cargill; O'Keefe, Bunker, Peart-Harris, McGeouch, Robertson; March, Wickham
Alvechurch possible starting lineup:
Jezeph; Burton, Teixeira, Willets, Sephton; Abbey, Carter, Edge; Concannon, Brown, Waldron
We say: Forest Green Rovers 3-1 Alvechurch
When up against it, Alvechurch are a side that has proven in both the FA Cup and the FA Trophy that they can score goals against almost any team. They will undoubtedly give a depleted Forest Green team a challenge at the New Lane this weekend.
However, the vast disparity between these two teams - including the star quality of Green's Wickham, Myles Peart-Harris and McGeouch - should see the home side win comfortably enough.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
