FANS will be hoping Preston's cup runs on and on this weekend as the Lilywhites travel to Chelsea for their FA Cup fifth round tie.

Bolstered by the news that Chelsea will be without defender John Terry on Sunday, the players head to Stamford Bridge not just out for the experience -- but out for a win.

Stalwart defender Graham Alexander said: "The FA Cup is special. I've never had a good run in it really. If we get through on Sunday it will be the quarter-finals and it will be amazing.

"It's a big carrot at the end of it and we'll go there to win."

It will also provide North End with a massive financial boost.

They are guaranteed around £750,000 from Sunday's fixture -- with that figure almost doubling if they make it further.

And striker Richard Cresswell said: "We have a long week to train and prepare for it, with the game being on Sunday and so we have plenty of time to get ourselves right.

"We are looking forward to it because it is a massive game for the fans and everyone connected with the club.

"The players are looking forward to it because of all the big names - who I don't really need to mention."

One player who won't be coming face to face with the likes of Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, Gianfranco Zola and Emmanuel Petit will be North End's new midfielder Dickson Etuhu. The youngster, who put in a sterling performance at the weekend, misses the game because he has collected five yellow cards.

Manager David Moyes said: "We are disappointed that Dickson will miss the Chelsea game through suspension.

"He had several bookings which he had picked up while at Manchester City and will now miss the FA Cup tie."

That could make team selection tricky for Moyes, especially with Mark Rankine still absent.

He will have to decide to put skippers Sean Gregan in his regular midfield command or guarding the rear in defence as he has been doing recently.

Moyes jokingly admitted that "Chelsea's bench scares me, let alone their first team! But the players intend to run on to the pitch as equals."

Cresswell added: "All their team are international players. But we'll take the game to them, we have nothing to lose.

"We are the underdogs and they'll be nervous on the day, so if we can make sure we don't concede early on then the fans might start getting on their backs.

"We've got some very good players here and I think they'll be more nervous than we are."