ST George's Lane will be filled with 4,000 supporters tomorrow as Worcester City bid to pull off a sensational FA Cup victory over Third Division high-flyers Rushden & Diamonds (3pm).

But John Barton's injury-hit squad faces a tall order to defeat Brian Talbot's Diamonds with several key players missing, notably Mark Owen and Ian Cottrill through injury and Jon Holloway (suspension).

Darren Bullock and Darren Middleton also struggling to recover in time from knee injuries although Barton was more hopeful for Bullock.

One player who is fit is Paul Carty who has sampled the true magic of the cup during Hednesford Town's thrilling cup run in 1996-97.

During their cup exploits they claimed the scalps of Southport, York City and Blackpool to set up a mouthwatering fourth round clash with Bryan Robson's Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.

Lining up against Carty were some of the most famous players in the world including Italian striker Fabrizio Ravanelli and the Brazilians Juninho and Emerson -- but Hednesford, then in the Nationwide Conference, battled hard to only lose 3-2.

"We played in front of 33,500 and to be honest it seemed to go really quick", said Carty, who could be in the starting line-up tomorrow after recovering from a calf injury.

"The noise was unbelievable and with both sets of supporters shouting you could hardly hear your team-mates.

"It was a great chance to play on the same pitch as so many great players but you didn't think about them being internationals -- it was just 11 against 11 and a case of giving it your best.

"We went 1-0 up after 18 minutes and up until then we had been camped in their half and they only equalised on the stroke of half-time from an own goal when Andy Comyn headed against his own player.

"We went in thinking we should be in the lead but they must have got a massive rollicking because it was a different story in the second half and their class started to show.

"Jan Aage Fjortoft came on and changed the game but after they scored their third we hit the post then pulled one back and it was a real grandstand finish."

Carty is set to come across some familiar faces from his Conference days such as Garry Butterworth and Billy Turley but warns they must be at their best to avoid an upset.

"Rushden are not going to relish coming to Worcester and on a one-off occasion like this if they come with the wrong or negative attitude we could have a chance."

Barton is set to give Middleton and Bullock as long as possible before naming his side but is confident Phil Stant will have recovered from his Achilles problem.

If tomorrow's game ends in a draw, the replay will be at Rushden's Nene Park ground on Tuesday, November 27 (7.45).

Worcester (from): McDonnell, Wyatt, Davies, Heeley, Weir, Jukes, Ellis, Shepherd, Hyde, Goodman, Carty, Burrow, Stant, Bullock, Middleton, McFarlane.

Formcast: Diamonds to prove too strong and win 3-1.