DERRY CITY start their FAI Cup campaign with Drogheda United making the trip to the Brandywell on Friday night.
City have played in five blue ribbon cup finals since 2002, winning it three times and losing finalists in their other in 2014 and 2008. Because of that boss Kenny Shiels knows how important the this evening's tie is for the club.
"The FAI Cup is a big competition and we have a tall order because Drogheda are a good team," said Shiels.
"They are flying high in the First Division and it's a tie where we have to be very careful with, but I'm sure if we play to our strengths and our ability to the win the game then we have got a good chance."
Although United trial run away First Division leaders Limerick by 12 points, Shiels knows that they had an impressive 1-0 victory over fellow promotion hopefuls Shelbourne.
"Drogheda have got good players, their midfield of [Sean] Thornton, [Sean] Brennan and [Aaron] Molloy is very good and on the sides they have [Aaron] Ashe and [Adam] Wixted and Sam O'Connor up front is good, in fact their front six is very good. So we have to be careful and make sure that we take the game to them and try to win a positive way."
Shiels also knows that his side will be favourites going into the tie and he's hoping those expectation levels can be matched by his players: "I think the home advantage will give us more expectations but the boys have to singularity and look at the game on it's merits," he added.
"We need to prepare for the tie so that we can produce positive actions, like attacking football and look to get ourselves going to see if we can get the right blend and right mix to win the game.
"Going into the game people think that we are going to be totally dominate but you are never dominate in this type of game. If you look at the Finn Harps game where we were really, really dominate but ended up drawing 2-2, but that's the think with football, you can have total domination and not win.
"If you play a game of cricket domination wins, its the same at rugby, but it isn't always that way in football and we must prepare well. If you can do everything right from mentality, physicality and tactically then you have a better chance and they are the three key areas for us."
Shiels has a fully fit squad to choose from apart from long term injury victims Harry Monaghan and Gareth McGlynn.
Elsewhere in the Cup, in the only all Premier Division tie in the second round Bohemians host Galway United. Holders Dundalk start their defence with a home tie against Shelbourne and last year's beaten finalists Cork City entertain junior side St Peter's and Shamrock Rovers have home advantage over junior side Midleton.
Saturday sees City's neighbours Finn Harps take on recent FAI Intermediate Cup winners Crumlin United at Ballybofey, while fellow North West men Letterkenny Rovers, who are playing in the second round stage for the first time in their history, make the trip to Athlone Town.
Sligo Rovers come up against First Division side Cabinteely and St Patrick's Athletic, fresh from a mid-week 4-0 win over Finn Harps, take on Pike Rovers at Richmond Park.
