ROVERS enter the hat for the FA Cup when the third round draw takes place at Wembley tomorrow.

But Rovers fans may still not get to know their opponents IF they get drawn at home to the AXA 'wild card'.

Due to Manchester United's participation in the FIFA World Club Championships, only 63 balls will be included in the third round draw.

The 63rd ball drawn, however, will play at home to the 'wild card' selection, which will be drawn from the 20 defeated clubs in the Second Round.

So if Rovers are the 63rd club then they may have to wait 10 days before their opponents are decided.

One thing guaranteed in all this, however, is it won't be United!

ROVERS will be hoping to become the latest side to put the Crewe defence under the cosh when the two sides meet at Gresty Road on Tuesday.

The amount of pressure on the Alex backline at the minute is reflected, not only in their lowly league placing, but also by the presence of their defensive stars at the top of the latest Opta stats.

Overworked goalkeeper Jason Kearton and gritty defender Steve Macauley have both been earning their corn for the Railwaymen lately, despite Dario Gradi's men sinking to the bottom of Division One.

Kearton is currently top of the goalkeepers category, edging out Norwich's Andy Marshall, while 30-year-old Macauley heads the defenders section, ahead of Ipswich's Tony Mowbray and Sheffield United's in-form Shaun Murphy.

Meanwhile, Rovers Republic of Ireland international Lee Carsley is currently topping the midfield section.

The tenacious workhorse has started to add goals to his tough-tackling midfield play, and he is currently the top scorer at Ewood with seven already this term. In fact, Carsley has scored four of Rovers last five goals to underline his enormous value to the side.

Carsley's Irish team-mate Mark Kinsella (Charlton) is the second best midfielder at present while Barnsley hot-shot Craig Hignett is rated as the Division's most lethal attacking midfielder.

In the striking department, Bolton's Eidur Gudjohnsen - an astute signing by Rovers target Colin Todd - is top of the shots ahead of Andy Hunt, who is currently leading Charlton's charge up the table.

FORMER Rovers striker Duncan Shearer will line-up for Inverness Caledonian Thistle in Sunday's Challenge Cup final against Alloa.

The 37-year-old joined Inverness in September 1997 after a glittering career with Aberdeen during which time he was also capped for his country.

And as the club's youth development officer as well as a player, he is in a good position to give his playing colleagues the benefit of his experience.

"I'll just be telling the players to enjoy every minute of it because chances like this don't come along very often.

"When they do, they tend to fly by, so when you look back on it you cannot remember much about it," said Shearer. "You need to savour the occasion, but make sure you have a winner's medal in your pocket when you leave the stadium."

Shearer Mark One joined Rovers from Swindon in the season of 1991-92.

But he only played six games - scoring once - before moving on to Aberdeen where he was part of their Coca-Cola Cup-winning side in 1995, scoring a goal in the 2-0 final defeat of Dundee.

Now he has the chance to add another medal to his collection before deciding whether or not to hang up his boots.

TICKETS are now on sale for Rovers Nationwide First Division clash at Port Vale on December 4.

All tickets are for unreserved seating behind the goals in the Caudwell Stand and prices are: adults and senior citizens (£15), juniors (£6.50).

Tickets can be purchased in person at the ticket office, by postal application (including a letter, payment and SAE) or by calling the free ticket hotline on 08080 10 10 10.

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