Recent Cup pedigree backed to see Clarets through

The Championship strugglers pulled off one of the shocks of the third round last week by securing a 2-1 win in a replay at Anfield thanks to Shane Long's winner in extra time.

Reading's reward is a home draw against Burnley, and with the Clarets having lost 10 out of 11 away fixtures in the Barclays Premier League this season and currently only a point away from the relegation zone, another upset could be on the cards.

However, Laws is not expecting to see the underdogs win through again at the Madejski Stadium tomorrow.

"I am delighted for them (Reading) because it keeps their cup run going and I know they are struggling financially," said Laws, who was a spectator at Anfield last week.

"This will be a great relief for them and they will be looking at us and maybe looking at our away record and thinking there's another opportunity to progress in the FA Cup.

"But I think Burnley have already shown last season that they have an appetite for the cup competitions."

Preston manager Darren Ferguson will take inspiration from the FA Cup shocks already supplied by Leeds and Reading when his side host Premier League leaders Chelsea.

A sell-out 23,000 Deepdale crowd will see Carlo Ancelotti's side in what is Ferguson's first home game in charge.

Chelsea beat Sunderland 7-2 last weekend and will come to Lancashire in search of another resounding victory, but Ferguson is aiming to pull off another huge surprise.

He said: "We are going to have to be at our maximum and Chelsea need to have an off day if we are to have a chance."

Crystal Palace boss Neil Warnock has heaped praise on his former "boot-boy" Mick McCarthy ahead of their Cup meeting.

Warnock revealed Wolves boss McCarthy used to clean his boots when the pair were both players at Barnsley.

"Not a lot of people know that we know each other. Mick used to clean my boots at Barnsley, which stood him in good stead."

Elsewhere, Carling Cup finalists Aston Villa take on Brighton, while Fulham face a potentially tricky tie with League Two strugglers Accrington Stanley.

There are all-Premier League ties between Everton and Birmingham and Portsmouth and Sunderland, while Stoke host Arsenal tomorrow.

Cardiff City play Championship rivals Leicester and fellow promotion hopefuls West Brom tackle Newcastle.