IPSWICH -- we're ready for you!

That's the message from Jim Harvey's Shrimps as the Premiership giants head for Christie Park for the biggest game in Morecambe FC's history and one of the most exciting events in the town for years.

The club's glorious FA cup run has captured the imagination of the media nationwide, and a press day at Christie Park on Wednesday was very well attended.

Keen as ever to promote the town's local produce, the football club even served up potted shrimps for lunch -- as well as a taste of the club's award-winning pies. And fans flocked to the ground for a rare chance to see the FA cup close up, while the players piled on to a tractor, representing Ipswich, nicknamed 'The Tractor Boys'.

One of the players attracting most attention was young winger Ryan Zico Black. He said: "It's definitely the biggest game I've ever played in. I played for Northern Ireland at under-18 level and this is bigger than that.

"We've got a chance with the fans behind us. Good team play has taken us this far, but we've got a few good individuals as well."

And how does 'Zico', who admits his name gives him 'a lot to live up to' think his side will cope? '1-1' he replies, confidently.

For the Morecambe board of directors, the herculean task of organising the big game is almost complete.

Chief Executive Rod Taylor told the Citizen: "It's a massive event for the town. It's the biggest thing to happen here since the Eric Morecambe statue was unveiled and bigger than anything that happened for a long time before that."

And chairman Peter McGuigan hopes that his side can play up to their potential.

He said: "We set out at the start of the season to have a good cup run. I hope we can play on Saturday as well as we have done in the last nine or 10 league games."

The odds are against Morecambe on Saturday, with one bookie offering 13-1 against a home victory.

But if Jim Harvey's men do the business on Saturday, they will take their place in history alongside the likes of famous giant-killers Yeovil Town, Hereford and Sutton and become the first club from outside the football league to defeat a top flight side since the Premiership was formed.

(At the time of going to press, a handful of standing tickets remained on sale for the Morecambe end of the ground.)