ACCRINGTON Stanley will be thrust into the national spotlight when they pursue their FA Cup dream live on BBC1 on Sunday.

For the first time in their history, Stanley are set to welcome TV crews to the Interlink Express Stadium as they prepare to do battle against Third Division Huddersfield Town in the first round (ko 1pm).

But despite all the hype and national media attention this week, boss John Coleman (pictured) and his players have remained firmly focused on the task in hand.

He said: "Hopefully we will be able to rise to the occasion. It's a massive test for us but our training has been going well and we will be ready."
Stanley's opponents suffered a demoralising 6-2 defeat at the hands of Scunthorpe last weekend and were dealt another blow when they lost 2-0 to the Football League's bottom club Carlisle on Tuesday night.

But the Reds chief said: "We just want to concentrate on our own game. We're not taking their results into account." And he said the £50,000 cash windfall from the TV coverage would come in very handy, adding: "Any influx of money is welcome. We want to have a wonderful ground for the fans and this will help. There's a lot of work that still needs to be done.

"I just hope we can get the result on the day and progress further in the competition. We always try and do our best and at the end of the day that's all we can do."

Striker Paul Mullin has been fighting to recover from a calf strain and was receiving treatment this week while Justin Jackson missed Stanley's trip to Gravesend as he is suffering from flu. Paul Cook was also substituted after suffering the effects of a bug. But the team has been handed a vital boost as skipper Peter Cavanagh is available to play. The full back played for an England XI against Belgium, drawing 2-2, on Tuesday night at Darlington's Reynolds Arena.

Coleman added: "It was a great honour for him and for the club. I rang him up and told him he was in the team, so he was made up. It's good for him and for us."

Stanley are again in action on Tuesday night at home to Conference table-toppers Hereford United (ko 7.45pm).