The commitment of the players at Elland Road today (12.0 kick-off, Sky Sports), when Leeds United play host to Liverpool, should provide a positive answer to those that doubt the current allure of the FA Cup to England's big clubs.

It is not in the nature of David O'Leary's Leeds side to soft-pedal anywhere, and Gerard Houllier knows that his credibility at Anfield could do with some silver on the sideboard.

An open, entertaining fourth round encounter should be the outcome. At the beginning of November, on the same ground, Leeds and Liverpool produced a Premiership match of extraordinary fluctuations. Mark Viduka scored four for Leeds, his last two enabling them to win 4-3 after being 3-2 down with 17 minutes to go.

The absence of Steven Gerrard and Emile Heskey, both doubtful, from Liverpool's midfield and attack would increase the chances of another, maybe less nerve-wracking Leeds victory. But if Robbie Fowler, in such good form when Liverpool demolished Crystal Palace on Wednesday to reach the League Cup final, is still in the team and in the mood, anything might happen.

Of course, O'Leary played in English football's showpiece five times, winning twice during his illustrious playing career with Arsenal, and he admitted: "Winning the FA Cup is probably the best day of your life."

Two-and-a-half years into his managerial career with Leeds, O'Leary is still searching for his elusive first piece of silverware and reckons the FA Cup would be the ideal place to start.

"I've won them all, and the league is the best - but the FA Cup is second best," said O'Leary. "The FA Cup throws up so many freak results, and you need a little bit of luck along the way. But it will be lovely to do it at a new venue for the first time in a landmark year."

Arsenal and Chelsea should survive their fourth round visits to first division clubs with other things on their minds. Queen's Park Rangers, who take on Arsene Wenger's off-target artillery, can barely afford to glance at the Cup given their parlous league position, while Gillingham's tie with Chelsea has been overshadowed by an FA investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the Kent club.

Should the attendance at Old Trafford tomorrow not reach its usual 67,000-plus it will be because West Ham supporters, possibly tiring of public executions, have not taken up their full quota of tickets. Either way, defeat for Manchester United would be almost as big a shock as Dagenham and Redbridge knocking out Charlton in a third round replay or Kingstonian winning at Bristol City.

An early clue to at least one of this season's finalists could come at the Stadium of Light, where Sunderland will expect to eliminate Ipswich having beaten them 4-1 on New Year's Day. Peter Reid's team have come on song at the right time for the FA Cup - except that this time the lyric will be about welcomes in hillsides and coming home to Wales.