It's a huge FA Cup day for Peterborough Sports who are praying it's third time lucky as they seek to make club history

But even if Sports don’t reach the first round proper for the first time in the club’s history by seeing off National League North rivals Curzon Ashton at the Bee Arena (3pm), their inspirational boss believes it’s only a matter of time before his side get in the same draw as Peterborough United.

"When we played at Fylde at this stage a few seasons back I was really disappointed to lose as I felt we’d never get that far again,” Dean stated.

“But we’ve now got within one win of the first round in three of the last four seasons so we have to realise this is now our level.

"We should expect to get this far at least every season now. We’re establishing ourselves quickly as a leading non-league club.

"Of course we will bust a gut to try and make sure we win on Saturday, but if we don’t we will get other opportunities.

"That’s not me trying to play the game down because I’ve treated reaching the first round for the first time as one of our major targets all season and this is a golden opportunity to get into Monday’s draw.

"Curzon will be tough though. They are enjoying a similar season to us and they obviously have big performances in them as they’ve won at Kidderminster this season and knocked out Scarborough in the last round.

"They apparently were cruising at bottom club Bradford Park Avenue on Saturday, but then conceded two late goals and were beaten.

"They started Saturday two points ahead of us nd now are a point behind, but there’s clearly very little between the teams so it should a close, competitive contest.

"We have played well against good sides as well and we are on a great run at home so hopefully that will work in our favour. Our regular fans are something special and if we can get a few more through the gate on Saturday that would undoubtedly help as well.

"Posh are away so if their fans want a football fix they can come and see us.

“It’s a huge day for my club, but also a huge day for Peterborough as I imagine no other city club apart from Posh has ever been in the first round draw.”

Sports have centre-back Connor Johnson available after he completed a three-game suspension last weekend.

It’s hoped right-back Isaiah Bazeley is fit enough to return after injury, while Ky Marsh-Brown, Josh McCammon and Mark Jones are seeking recalls after starting on the substitutes’ bench against Telford.

Dean has also taken Australian right-back Luca Doorbar-Baptist on a two-week trail and the former Nottingham Forest youngster could be involved against Curzon Ashton.

Former Italian Serie C midfielder Diadier Camara appeared for Sports in a County Cup tie on Tuesday.

Sports were beaten 6-1 at Fylde in the FA Cup fourth qualifying round in 2019 and lost 2-1 at King’s Lynn Town at the same stage last season after taking the lead.

The draw for the first round proper of the FA Cup will take place on Monday (October 17) live on BBC Two from 7pm with ties scheduled for the first week of November.