PREVIEW: Salford City v Hartlepool United

The Evo-Stik Premier side return to Moor Lane and go into the game on the back of a 2-0 away defeat to lowly Grantham Town at the weekend, which brought an end to the club’s nine match unbeaten run in the league.

The Ammies, however, will take heart from the previous round where they knocked out fellow League Two outfit Notts County in front of the BBC cameras as they look to do the same again in he round’s televised game.

The visitors also head into the game on the back of a defeat – their fourth in five games – as they slipped up 1-0 at home to Oxford United and thus will be looking to respond in the cup and show his side have learnt lessons after fellow non-league side, Blyth Spartans, knocked out Pool in front of the cameras last season.

The side backed by the Class of 92 admitted they wanted a home-tie before the second round draw was made with just one defeat in their past five home matches in all competitions.

United are struggling in League Two with just 20 points from the opening 19 games and manager Ronnie Moore will not want his side to become Salford’s second Football League victim at Moor Lane.

Salford look set to remain without star striker Gareth Seddon who continues to battle knee ligament damage that has kept him sidelined.

Tom Peers finds himself cup-tied after already featuring in this season’s competition for National League side, Chester FC.

Both fans are very familiar with James Poole – the man who scored that long-range stunner to send Salford through to the FA Cup first round proper – as the former Hartlepool player is expected to be restored to the starting line-up after a substitute role against Grantham on Saturday.

With a host of loan players in the squad, United will be without winger Kal Naismith after the on-loan Portsmouth man made a second-half substitute appearance for Pompey against Macclesfield Town in the last round, cup-tieing any involvement for Pool.

Club captain Billy Paynter is also out after an Achilles injury is expected to keep him out until at least February.

Fellow loanees Jake Gray, Adam Jackson and Mikael Mandron, however, have been given permission by parent clubs to be involved.

Provisional Squads:

Salford City: J Lynch (GK), Kebbie, O’Halloran, Stopforth, Howson, C Lynch, Hardcastle, Burton, Webber, Allen, Poole, Hulme, Sharp, Clark, Giverin, Mwasile.

Hartlepool United: Carson (GK), Duckworth, Jackson, Bates, Carroll, Featherstone, Magnay, Walker, Gray, Oyenuga, Oates, Bingham, Mandron, Bartlett, Harrison, Jones, Fenwick.