Its time for the magic of the FA Cup once again.
I like many supporters of a certain age still look forward to the romance of the FA Cup, OK its lost some of its sheen due to commercialism but to me it still remains as the best competition in the World.
It offers clubs be they big or small the chance to play other sides and at other grounds than their usual week in week out league stuff and of course it still has the potential for an upset every now and then in the earlier rounds before the likes of Chelsea get knocked out of Europe and start to put out their strongest side.
Last year was unchartered territory for most Saints supporters in that it was the first time we had played in the 1st round for 50 years and now we have that honour again although we arent playing a team we havent met before just one we have met rarely.
Early indications seem to suggest that Saints will be taking it seriously although I do hope that they use it as a chance to give a run out to one or two who havent seen much action lately, personallyI would like to see Ryan Dickson given a game at left back plus Arron martin and Lee Holmes given run outs, its important to make sure they have a little bit of match fitness should they be called upon in the coming weeks and I dont feel that there inclusion would weaken the side, in fact in at least two cases it woudl in my opinion strengthen it.
Shrewsbury for their part are in a very similar position to Saints in League 2 sitting in the play off spots two points off second place, however with three automatic spots in that division they are only one point off third.
They have won their last two league wins although in fairness Crew and bottom of the table Barnet cant be considered the strongest opposition and before that they had lost three in a row in a run of only 2 points from six games, their position though shows they had a strong start to the season and are no mugs.
There arent any big names in the Shrewsbury side, no wizened warhorses with real Premier experience seeing out their days, in the main their team appears to be made up of mid 20's journeymen who Graham Turner seems to be moulding into a decent side and we shouldnt underestimate them this being the cup they are sure to raise their game and look to get a result.
We should have enough in our locker to beat them though, but this is the Cup and for Saints it has always been packed with drama, sometimes in our favour and sometimes not.