THAT mixed feeling of excitement and dread has gripped me so it must be the FA Cup this weekend.

Hartlepool United are our visitors and as luck would have it, they're just starting to put some form together.

The North East side were rock bottom of the league when the first round draw was made. But the prospect of a tie at the County Ground has clearly spurred their players on to greater efforts.

From bottom place, United have climbed to the dizzy heights of 16th.

Town go into this match complacent at their peril as Pool have players who once graced a higher level, including Richie Humphreys and Gordon Watson.

Still, with the club's finances in the state they are, a win and a place in round two is absolutely imperative.

For some reason, the game has failed to capture the imagination. Their manager described the tie as a 'stinker'.

And if we produce another performance like we did at Blackpool, there could be an upset.

On the subject of cup excitement, I think Nick and the lads who produce Town's excellent matchday programme were guilty of taking the michael just slightly recently.

One particular article said the town had been taken over by 'cup fever' ahead of the first visit of Hartlepool United.

Not so much a fever, more a cold sweat.