Preview: Scunthorpe (Home)

Nigel Adkins' Scunthorpe side visit Eastlands tomorrow hoping to cause the shock of the round. The plum tie against lower-league opposition should be a good chance to rest key players and rely on those who perhaps don't start every week. Given the cup humblings last season, though, and the fact that realistically speaking this is our best chance of ending our silverware drought, i think Hughes might select as strong a side as possible.

I certainly think that's the right way to go about the game. It always strikes me as odd when managers rest players rather than win the game then let them put their feet up. Those with knocks who might be wheeled out of the dressing room were it a tough league game, leave them out by all means, but otherwise i'd be tempted to pick our strongest eleven.

Wayne Bridge's knee injury means we're likely to see a debut for Sylvinho. Out of action since the European Cup Final in May, the Brazilian may well be a little ring rusty. The same might be expected of Vincent Kompany, presumably to be given the nod in place of captain Kolo Toure. The mobility of the pair could possibly be a concern, the man in the middle of them, Joleon Lescott, could have a heavier workload than he might've expected.

Rumours of Michael Johnson getting his first start since our exit from the very same competition at Brighton over a year ago are probably wide of the mark. I expect Stevie Ireland to get ninety minutes alongside either Nigel de Jong or Gareth Barry. A shortage of left-wing options might mean Craig Bellamy has to start when not 100%, though i'd be perfectly happy with Vladimir Weiss getting the nod. Roque Santa Cruz is said to have tonsillitis, meaning we might be as you were in attack.

Though we won't be taking the Glanford Park side lightly, you'd have thought the evening could be one for getting a few chins back up. Losing one game all season is no mean feat, but failing to get maximum points from three on the bounce has led to doubts creeping in amongst some fans. Manu and Tevez have seemed frustrated of late, and SWP could do with a good game after earning a bit of criticism in recent weeks. For that reason i'd play all three, a good result could prove a real shot in the arm for the Birmingham game.

The 'experts' will tell you it's a game we can't possibly lose, as fans we've been here before. Thirty places below us they might be, and quite poor on the road, the perfect formula for a cup humbling. With the stadium likely to be far from capacity, and the pressure very much on us, they do have at least a slight chance, and we shouldn't take them for mugs, but we should win this, and well.

Their side may include on-loan West Ham defender Jordan Spence, former Tranmere 'keeper Joe Murphy and dangerous striker Paul Hayes. Centre-half Cliff Byrne and midfielder Matthew Sparrow are the only two names who also played in the FA Cup third round tie at Eastlands three years ago in which Robbie Fowler bagged a hat-trick in quarter of an hour. Joint top-scorer Gary Hooper misses out, and David Mirfin is doubtful.

I'm not sure we'll have it all our own way, they'll be up for the occasion and we need to not get sidetracked. An early goal would enable us to get into our rhythm nicely, and hopefully there'll be no slip-ups. A couple of goals advantage could mean run-outs from the bench for the likes of Kieran Tripper, Ben Mee or David Ball, all said to in contention for a place in the match squad. Job done, please, lads.

City: Given, Zabaleta, Sylvinho, Kompany, Lescott, Barry, SWP, Ireland, Tevez, Adebayor, Bellamy

Scunthorpe: Murphy, Spence, Williams, Byrne, Jones, Togwell, O'Connor, Sparrow, McCann, Hayes, Forte

Prediction: City 3 Scunthorpe 1