Like Chris Coleman, Tony Pulis is up for the cup with the Middlesbrough manager targeting a place in the fourth round.
A busy festive schedule has left many managers rueing the return of the Emirates FA Cup, but both Coleman and Pulis are relishing the prospect of Saturday’s Tees-Wear derby.
Pulis’ first game in charge of the Teesside outfit ended in defeat against Aston Villa, but he picked up his first win on New Year’s Day and is keen to maintain that momentum.
And although his main objective is climbing the league table, the Welshman admits he would a love a cup run after taking Stoke City to the final in 2011.
"I've always been a loyal supporter of the FA Cup, and I've had the honour of taking a team to the final,” said Pulis.
“If we can have a good cup run here, I will be absolutely delighted, as the FA Cup will always remain very special to me."
He continued: “I want to be able to put out as strong a team as I can.
"Martin has a slight thigh problem and we'll assess that over the next 24 hours, Adam Clayton and Adam Forshaw have both been carrying injuries too so we'll assess their progress.
"There has been a bit of flu about with a couple of the players, the doc will be keeping me up to date on how they are and we'll see.
“I'm still assessing the players, on and off the field, I still don't know all the players, it's a big squad, but what I need to find is a level of consistency from which we can build.
“My remit is to have a good few weeks looking not just at the players but the training ground and everything else.
“The comparison with what I had at Stoke ten years ago is what brought me to the club, Steve Gibson has his roots in this area and he wants it to thrive and to be part of that.”