Rugby Town host old foes Romulus in the Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round this weekend at Butlin Road.

Valley have made an unbeaten start to the season in their opening three games including the 2-1 win over Coventry United in the Extra Preliminary Round two weeks ago.

Please note that should the game be drawn the tie will be decided with a replay on Monday 21st August 2017 at Coles Lane, Sutton Coldfield.

FA Cup

Rugby will be hoping to extend a 15-year run which has seen them reach at least the First Qualifying Round.

In recent years, Rugby's FA Cup record has been respectable having last season reached the Second Qualifying Round but were knocked out for a second successive year by Brackley Town after a convincing defeat at St James' Park.

Valley have reached the Third Qualifying Round four occasions in the last 10 years before suffering defeats to Chelmsford City in 2006, Bishop's Stortford in 2008 and Worcester City in 2013.

Valley last reached the FA Cup First Round proper back in 1993-4 nearly 18 years ago while Rugby's best FA Cup record came in 1987-88 and 1992-93 when they reached the Second Round Proper.

Opponents - Romulus

The Roms have started the new season with a defeat and a draw in their opening two Evo-Stik League matches.

Rugby faced the Roms twice last season during the NPL First Division South league campaign.

As a NPL club, this tie will be Romulus’ first FA Cup tie of the season with a bye in the Extra Preliminary Round while last season they were knocked out in the First Qualifying Round by Hereford.

This meeting will be the sixth meeting between Rugby and Romulus since the first in the Birmingham Senior Cup in 2010.

The two sides have a curious record in previous meetings where the away team has been the victor in all five games in the past between the sides.

Valley Player News

Goalkeeper Niall Cooper will hope to return between the sticks for Rugby after missing the mid-week draw at Long Eaton with a leg injury.

Barwell understudy goalkeeper Max Smith-Varnam deputised against Long Eaton but Cooper is expected to be fit enough to feature.

Meanwhile Rugby are still without injured duo Trey Brathwaite and Craig Kelly as well as midfielder Josh Thornton who serves the final game of his three game suspension.

Valley Squad from: Niall Cooper; Sean Castleton, Jamie Hall, Brad Harris, Aiden Print, Kyle Rowley, Mason Rowley; Ben Ashby, Reece Chambers, James Dance, Harry Holloway, Liam Holt, Ryan Isherwood, Josh Ruff, Josh Thornton; Tevin Shakespeare, Chadd Birch, David Kolodynski, Ruben Wiggins-Thomas.