FA CUP: Good luck to the Grecians at Theatre of Dreams

The last Nationwide Conference representatives left in the FA Cup will go into their third round tie against Manchester United with the support and best wishes of the Football Conference, and probably the majority of the nation.

93 positions separate the St James' Park club from the current cup holders, who have won the competition a record 11 times, but they will not let history or the gulf in status deter them as they attempt to get a result against the Premiership giants.

The Grecians have already seen off two Football League sides on their way to the Third Round, beating Grimsby 1-0 in the First Round and overcoming former Conference play-off winners and last season's Third Division Champions Doncaster in Round Two.

Exeter City captain Sean Devine looks likely to overcome a calf injury in time to lead the the side out on Saturday afternoon.

The cup holders are certain to field a weakened side after playing four Premiership games in ten days over Christmas and New Year, but The Grecians will be desperate to have their experienced striker playing as they attempt to overcome the odds and cause one of the biggest upsets in the history of the FA Cup.

Devine told BBC Radio Devon: "This match is a dream tie for everyone. And it's not every day you can have the privilege of captaining a side at Old Trafford in an FA Cup tie.

"The FA Cup is one of those trophies where there's always shocks, and hopefully we can go there and cause the biggest upset of them all," he added.

Exeter go into the match in good form, having won five of their last six matches in the Conference, and with manager Alex Inglethorpe having just been named Nationwide Conference Manager of the Month for December.

The confidence of the players is underlined by the sentiments of defender Gary Sawyer, who revealed his huge disappointment that he will not be marking Ruud van Nistelrooy or Wayne Rooney on Saturday, as both will miss the match.

Rooney serves the last match of his three-game suspension, while van Nistelrooy is still out injured, and Sawyer admitted in the Express & Echo: "I wanted to pit myself against these two great strikers to see how I would do.

"It's about wanting to test yourself against the best but then again whoever they start with will be quality."

Goalkeeper Tim Howard will return to United's starting line-up and Wes Brown will also play a part as he makes his comeback from his latest injury setback.

The underdogs will be without striker Kezie Ibe, who is cup-tied having scored a hat-trick while on loan at Tiverton earlier in the competition, but like Devine, former Old Trafford trainee Andy Taylor should also be fir to play and will no doubt relish lining up against his old club.

Good luck Exeter! And the Conference also sends it's best wishes to Ryman Premier League side Yeading, the only other 'non-league' side in the third round, as they take on Newcastle United at Loftus Road!

Yeading are currently nine points clear at the top of the Ryman Premier League and are in pole position to win promotion to the Nationwide South for next season. Their game against the Magpies will be shown on BBC One on Sunday - kick-off at 1.45pm.