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A victory over Southampton tonight would take giant-killing Rotherham United into the last 16 of the competition for only the fourth time in their history.

Robins, who lifted the trophy as a Leicester City player
11 years ago, says that simply getting this far has been a 'great achievement' for the Millers.

However, with a twinkle in his eye, the former Manchester United striker has not ruled out the possibility of the last surviving League Two club going all the way to the final.

"In any Cup game, league form goes out of the window," he stressed. "I am not saying that we are going to win it – by any stretch of the imagination – but as long as you are in it, you always have a chance, don't you?"

The Millers have shocked Championship sides Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves in reaching the third round and, in the league, have lost only once to claw back 14 of the 17 points deducted at the start of the season for breaking the Football League's insolvency policy.

Alas for the Millers, the Carling Cup is nowhere near as financially rewarding as the FA Cup, with no prize money on offer prior to the semi-finals, and only a split of limited gate receipts during the initial rounds adding to the club's coffers.

Robins believes that the other spin-offs are just as important for the Millers, who are trying to recover after exiting administration in the summer and moving to a temporary home at Sheffield's Don Valley Stadium.

"It's not about prize money, it's about putting bums on seats and getting people through the turnstiles again," he said. "It's about getting through the rounds in the Cup competitions rather than falling at the first hurdle every time.

"Staying in the Carling Cup is important because we are trying to rebuild a club from the foundations. The last four years have been horrendous for everyone connected with this club, but we are enjoying this run at the moment and nobody is complaining. We are not at the latter stages yet, but as far as we are concerned, it is a great Cup run and we want to stay in as long as we can."

Robins has not enjoyed a League Cup campaign so much since winning the trophy courtesy of an extra-time victory in a replay over Middlesbrough in 1997. "You have to enjoy any Cup run," he said. "I was lucky enough to win this competition with Leicester and that was a fantastic experience. I scored the winner in the quarter-final at Ipswich and came on in the final and was involved in the goal that forced a replay.

"That was one of the highlights of my career – alongside winning promotion through the play-offs at Wembley, winning the FA Cup, and being involved as an unused substitute when Manchester United beat Barcelona in the Cup-winners' Cup. I have had lots of experience at the back end of Cup football and know what it feels like to win the major trophies. To be involved in Cup football for as long as you can is just as important for confidence as winning games in the league."

Although Southampton have struggled in the Championship, Robins is hugely impressed by the football being played under the club's new Dutch manager Jan Poortvliet.

"They are a young side playing with no fear and Jan Poortvliet has a few options at his disposal," said Robins. "I like his philosophy on football, it is fantastic and refreshing.

"I just hope he is given the chance to build that team until it matures because, make no doubt about it, if he gets that opportunity, he will have a really good team on his hands in the not-too-distant future."

Over 5,000 are expected to attend tonight's game, which will represent a 20 per cent increase on the gate for Saturday's league win over Luton Town.

With another 5,000 gate envisaged for the Johnstone's Paint Trophy tie against Leeds United next month, the revenue is building.

Winning tonight's game could send the Millers to one of a possible 12 Premier League destinations in the last 16. Even if there were plenty of third-round shocks, the minimum number of Premier League clubs in the draw for the next round is four.

Defender Mark Lynch was sent for X-rays yesterday after dislocating a shoulder against Luton and is unlikely to be involved.

Last six games: Millers WDDLDW, Saints WWLLDD.

Last time: Millers 2 Saints 1; January 16, 2002; FA Cup.

Referee: RL Shoebridge (Derbyshire).