This weekend’s schedule of FA Cup football comes as a welcome break from the frantic return to domestic action since the World Cup break.
It’ll give opportunity for a number of Premier League teams to rotate their starting line-ups and give chances for some of their younger stars to shine in the first-team.
With that in mind, it means there could be some potential slip-ups in this round of the competition and, here, Sportsmail identifies the likelihood of a shock in the each of the games.
The FA Cup returned on Friday night and there’s a whole host of teams involved this weekend
GILLINGHAM v LEICESTER 12.30pm
Chance of shock: 2/5
This is what the FA Cup third round is all about: League Two’s bottom club hosting the winners of 2021.
But with new ownership at Priestfield, US businessman Brad Galinson, and a couple of solid appointments in senior executive roles at football and board level, Gills may have turned a corner.
Manager Neil Harris was an FA Cup runner-up as a player with Millwall and said this week that he ‘loves’ the Cup — but added that his focus is on League Two survival. Having not won in 12 league games, with only seven goals scored after 23 matches in the fourth tier this season, a shock seems a wild bet here.
Leicester will be hoping to avoid any slip ups when they travel to Gillingham on Saturday
TOTTENHAM v PORTSMOUTH 12.30pm
Chance of shock: 2/5
A replay of the 2010 semi-final which Portsmouth edged 2-0 before losing to Chelsea in the final.
Pompey were relegated from the Premier League that month after troubles off the pitch. Now in League One, they sacked manager Danny Cowley this week after a run of one win in 14 league games.
They boast the quirk of the team to hold the FA Cup for the longest uninterrupted period — they won it in 1939 and it was not played again until 1946 due to the Second World War. The 2008 winners will bring nearly 9,000 fans to north London but a classic shock is a tall order.
Portsmouth will be without Dane Scarlett – who is on loan from Premier League outfit Spurs
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CHESTERFIELD v WEST BROM 3pm
Chance of shock: 3/5
Chesterfield join Boreham Wood and Wrexham as one of three non-League sides in the third round. The Spireites are third in the National League and have been past this stage just once since their run to the semi-finals in 1997.
Back then, they came within a whisker of the final, two goals and a man up before being denied a winning goal which had crossed the line but was not awarded. Manager Paul Cook is back after spells at Portsmouth, Ipswich and Wigan.
COVENTRY CITY v WREXHAM 5.30pm
Chance of shock: 4/5
IT’S hard to avoid using the Hollywood cliches when talking about Wrexham these days but, as Oscars season approaches, it would be a box-office script to see Phil Parkinson’s side go on a Cup run. This is their 15th season in the National League and they are two points behind leaders Notts County with a game in hand.
They are unbeaten in 17 games and boss Parkinson boasts one of the biggest FA Cup shocks in recent memory when his Bradford side knocked out Chelsea in 2015. This has all the ingredients for a shock.
Wrexham are the most likely side to pull-off an upset across this weekend’s FA Cup fixtures
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v NEWCASTLE 6pm
Chance of shock: 1/5
The tie of the round. Wednesday boss Darren Moore said he cannot wait to sample the roaring atmosphere at Hillsborough this evening.
‘Two big, historical clubs in the pyramid of football with huge fan bases,’ he said. ‘When you speak to anyone outside of football, they know straightaway the names of Wednesday and Newcastle.’
It’s these sides’ first FA Cup meeting since 1981, when Chris Waddle scored a brace. The Owls are unbeaten in 17 games and second in League One so will fancy their chances of an upset.
CARDIFF CITY v LEEDS 2pm tomorrow
Chance of shock: 2/5
Leeds have gone out in the third round for five consecutive seasons, with two embarrassing afternoons coming at Newport and Crawley.
The last time these sides faced off in the FA Cup was in 2002, when Premier League leaders Leeds were shocked by third-tier Cardiff after goals from Graham Kavanagh and Scott Young at Ninian Park.
Fans invaded the pitch and supporters clashed in nasty full-time scenes.
Jesse Marsch will be hoping to get back to winning ways when his side face Cardiff City
ASTON VILLA v STEVENAGE 4.30pm
Chance of shock: 2/5
Stevenage have not been past round three since 2014 but Steve Evans’ side are flying in League Two. ‘Steve-Evans-nage’ head to Villa Park having lost just once in 15 league games and bolstered their squad with two signings this week.
Stevenage stunned Premier League opposition in 2011 when they beat Newcastle at Broadhall Way and will fancy another upset, but it looks a tall order against Unai Emery’s improving Villa team.
OXFORD UNITED v ARSENAL 8pm
Chance of shock: 1/5
Arsenal players will wear a one-off all-white kit for this tie as part of the club’s continued initiative aimed at tackling knife crime and youth violence.
The ‘No More Red’ campaign also saw the Gunners don all-white for their tie at Nottingham Forest at this stage last season.
Oxford will hope to repeat Forest’s heroics and manager Karl Robinson said it can be a distraction from their league form. The U’s have won just one of their last six and are 14th in League One.
Arsenal will be looking to maintain their form in their trip to League One side Oxford United