Vale midfielder hoping for a win on Friday then a plum draw

Vale could be one of the first names into the hat for the third round of the FA Cup with a win over Salisbury City, but as midfielder Chris Birchall knows, that is far from a foregone conclusion.

But if we do manage to sweep Salisbury aside, for Birchall, there is only one team he would like to draw in the next round of the oldest Cup competition in the World.

He says: “It would be nice – we were one of the last into the second round draw and we could be one of the first into the third round, but I have seen these games a thousand times, they are ‘banana skin’ games really.

“We have got a team that won’t be taking this game lightly or taking Salisbury for granted. We have got to go out and perform – it’s a big pitch and we need to get it down and play and really get in their faces.

“We are a team that hustle and bustle, probably like they are going to be when they come here, but I think if we really concentrate and don’t take them lightly we should be okay, but you just never know.

“Night games are more exciting and there will be a big crowd hopefully for a Friday night game and it will be their Cup Final.

“They will be underdogs and they will come out and I am sure they will play some good football – there are a lot of good players in the Conference now.

“But we have just got to do a professional job and hopefully we can. The third round is the exciting one, where you can get anyone.

“We have got to beat Salisbury first. But the third round in my career, not once have I faced Stoke, so that will be my favourite. We will work hard, hopefully beat Salisbury and then get drawn against Stoke.”