DAVE BASSETT'S Crystal Palace promotion chasers plan to wreck any notions of an FA Cup return to Highbury for Leeds boss George Graham at Selhurst Park tonight.
Former Arsenal manager Graham will set up a huge fourth round date with the Gunners if Leeds get past Palace and then, 24 hours later, if Arsenal end their Sunderland trilogy with a Roker Park replay win.
But Bassett said: "We fancy that fourth round situation just as much as George will. More than anything we want to get in the Premiership now after just missing out in the Wembley play off last year, but staying in the Cup as long as we can will help rather than hinder us."
Bassett, who recalls defender Kevin Muscat after suspension but still has Ray Houghton and Robert Quinn serving bans, admits: "It will be tough for us especially as I'm pretty well down to the bare bones of the squad through injuries."
Graham pours scorn on suggestions he won't mind a quick Cup exit if it allows him to concentrate on consolidating Leeds' Premiership position.
"I'm happiest chasing trophies and I'm hopeful that will happen regularly at Leeds," he says.
Graham has to decide whether to recall £4 million winger Lee Sharpe after only selecting him for the subs' bench on Saturday follow on three games out with a groin injury.
Tommy Johnson will carry the weight of Aston Villa's goalscoring expectations at Notts County where top marksman Dwight Yorke misses the clash with the second division strugglers.
Thirteen goal Yorke is out with a thigh injury and Villa will also miss midfielder Mark Draper and full back Fernando Nelson through injury.
Manager Brian Little, who steered Villa to the FA Cup semifinals last season and also took the League Cup trophy at Wembley, keeps faith with the team which finished Saturday's 2-2 draw with Newcastle.
Derby, having already been put out of the League Cup by Luton, will be desperate to avoid another upset at Gillingham who removed Coventry from that competition earlier this season.
Crewe boss Dario Gradi yesterday took time out from trying to plot Wimbledon's FA Cup downfall to admit that he is a fully fledged member of the Crazy Gang's expanding fan club.
And, although he declares that nothing would give him greater pleasure than to see his highflying second division underdogs turn the third round tables on Joe Kinnear's men, he insists that meeting the Dons represents the toughest test he has ever faced during his 13 year stint in charge at Gresty Road.
Frank Clark takes his Manchester City side to face Brentford at Griffin Park hoping that brilliant Georgian playmaker Georgi Kinkladze shakes off the leg injury that forced him off against Crystal Palace on Saturday.
. Hednesford putted off another giant killing act to set up a glamour tie with Middlesbrough as they dumped York out of the FA Cup at Keys Park Stadium last night. A first half penalty from Keith Russell clinched victory for the GM Vauxhall Conference side who knocked out Blackpool in the second round. The third round success set up a bumper £100,000 payday for Hednesford, who are almost certain to switch their home match to the Riverside Stadium in two weeks' time.
