LONDON, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- The third round of the FA Cup this weekend sees teams from the Premier League and Championship come into the competition to face the winners of the first two rounds.
The third round always throws up the hope of a 'giant-killing' act with a lower division side knocking out a powerful top-flight rival, although the chances of Exeter City springing a surprise away to Manchester City, who has just completed the 65-million-pound signing of Antoine Semenyo, looks very remote, even if Manchester City is likely to play a host of fringe players.
Shrewsbury travels to the Premier League's bottom club, Wolverhampton Wanderers, just as it looks as if Wolves are finally coming into some form, and while sixth tier Macclesfield is at home to a Crystal Palace that has looked tired in recent games, the gulf in class between the team currently 14th in National League North and the reigning FA Cup holder should be too wide for even the most hopeful of sides to bridge.
Derby County from the EFL Championship might be more optimistic at home to a Leeds United more focused on Premier League survival this season than FA Cup glory, while bottom of the Championship (and effectively already relegated) Sheffield Wednesday may hope to salvage something from arguably the worst season in the club's history at home to Brentford.
Premier League leader Arsenal is away to Portsmouth, in a game where both sides are likely to give priority to their respective league needs, which in Portsmouth's case is avoiding relegation from the Championship, while Arsenal is six points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Championship side, Queens Park Rangers travels to visit a West Ham that is seven points adrift of safety in the Premier League after a painful defeat to Nottingham Forest on Monday, while Liam Rosenior makes his debut as Chelsea boss in a London derby away to Championship struggler, Charlton Athletic.
Rosenior's appointment hasn't convinced everyone and a good start at The Valley is important to the young coach.
Meanwhile, there will be some Hollywood glamour as Wrexham is at home to Nottingham Forest and this could be a chance of an upset with Nottingham Forest fourth from bottom of the Premier League and likely to rest star player, Morgan Gibbs-White.
There are several all-top-flight games, with Darren Fletcher again in the dugout as Manchester United hosts Brighton in a balanced tie if both sides field their strongest starting 11s.
Tottenham coach Thomas Frank desperately needs a good Cup run, but his team is at home to an in-form Aston Villa in another game where the ambition of both coaches could be decisive.
Newcastle United and Bournemouth go head-to-head, with Bournemouth likely to miss Semeydo, while Everton and Sunderland should produce a good tie between two sides who are no danger of relegation and have everything to gain with a good run in the FA Cup. ■
